Employee and Employer Contributions
This plan likely includes both employee deferrals (pretax or Roth) and employer match contributions. A common mistake is to divide the account without distinguishing these sources. Be sure your QDRO specifies whether the alternate payee’s share includes:
- Only employee deferrals (often 100% vested)
- Employer matches (which may be partially vested)
Leaving this vague can lead to disputes, especially if the participant’s employer match contributions are not fully vested at the time of separation or QDRO submission.

