Traditional vs. Roth Contributions
This plan likely includes both traditional 401(k) and Roth 401(k) components. Traditional accounts are funded with pre-tax dollars, while Roth accounts use after-tax dollars. This distinction matters because:
- Distributions from traditional accounts are taxed when received.
- Qualified Roth distributions are tax-free for the alternate payee, depending on how the QDRO is structured.
When drafting the QDRO, it’s critical to specify whether the amount being awarded to the alternate payee comes from pre-tax, Roth, or both types of contributions.

