Employee and Employer Contributions
In most 401(k) plans, employee contributions are always 100% vested. That means any money the employee contributed is theirs and fully available for division. Employer contributions, however, may be subject to a vesting schedule. Some or all of that money may not yet belong to the employee and therefore may not be divisible.
The QDRO must take into account:
- The vested balance as of the marital separation date (or another date agreed upon in the divorce)
- Whether to divide pre-tax balances, Roth contributions, or both

