1. Employee and Employer Contributions
Most QDROs divide the total vested balance of the account as of a specific date—often the date of separation or divorce. But employer contributions may have vesting schedules, so not all of those funds will be available to divide.
- Employee Contributions: These are always 100% vested and can be divided in full.
- Employer Contributions: These may be subject to a vesting schedule. If the participant isn’t fully vested, unvested amounts will revert to the plan if the participant leaves.
It’s critical the QDRO specify how to handle these portions. We typically request a vesting statement from the plan to clarify what’s available to divide.

