Introduction
If you or your spouse participated in the Hope Media Group 403(b) Retirement Plan and you’re going through a divorce, you’re probably wondering how those retirement savings will be divided. The process isn’t automatic—dividing any retirement plan, including the Hope Media Group 403(b) Retirement Plan, requires a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, or QDRO.
At PeacockQDROs, we’ve completed thousands of QDROs from start to finish. That means we don’t just draft the order and leave you to figure out the rest. We handle the drafting, preapproval (if applicable), court filing, submission, and follow-up with the plan administrator. That’s what sets us apart from firms that only prepare the document and hand it off to you. In this article, we’ll break down how to properly divide the Hope Media Group 403(b) Retirement Plan, step by step.
Plan-Specific Details for the Hope Media Group 403(b) Retirement Plan
Before you start the QDRO process, it’s essential to know the specifics of the plan you’re dealing with. Below are the details we have for the Hope Media Group 403(b) Retirement Plan:
- Plan Name: Hope Media Group 403(b) Retirement Plan
- Sponsor: Unknown sponsor
- Address: 20250730094249NAL0002223363001, 2024-01-01, 2024-12-31, 2012-10-01, 1722 TREBLE DRIVE
- Plan Type: 401(k) – Treated as a defined contribution retirement plan
- Industry: General Business
- Organization Type: Business Entity
- Status: Active
- Participants: Unknown
- Plan Year: Unknown to Unknown
- Effective Date: Unknown
- Assets: Unknown
- Plan Number & EIN: These numbers will need to be gathered from the participant’s plan statement or directly from the plan administrator as they are required for the QDRO.
Understanding QDROs for 401(k)-Style Plans
The Hope Media Group 403(b) Retirement Plan is administered like a traditional 401(k)—a defined contribution plan that includes individual accounts funded by employee deferrals, employer contributions, or both. Because it’s a 401(k)-type plan, certain issues come up frequently during divorce—such as contributions, account types, loans, and vesting. Let’s go over each of these key components.
Division of Contributions
In divorces, both employee and employer contributions can be divided—but only the vested portions of employer contributions are available to the former spouse, known legally as the “alternate payee.” Your QDRO should clearly spell out whether the division is based on a flat percentage, a dollar amount, or a specific date value.
Common methods include:
- Dividing 50% of the account value as of the date of divorce
- Dividing contributions made during marriage only
- Claiming a fixed dollar amount from the account
Vesting Schedules and Forfeitures
Most 401(k)-style plans attach a vesting schedule to employer contributions. This means that although your spouse might show a large total account balance on their statement, not all of it belongs to them yet. If some employer contributions aren’t vested at the time of division, they’ll be excluded from the QDRO calculation unless the participant stays with the company long enough to vest them later.
Make sure your QDRO accounts for:
- How vested and non-vested employer contributions are handled
- Whether future vesting is included in the award
- Whether unvested amounts are reallocated if the employee terminates employment
401(k) Loans
Many participants have loans against their 401(k) accounts, and these can complicate division. The Hope Media Group 403(b) Retirement Plan may include participant loans, which reduce the available balance to divide. The QDRO should make it clear whether your share includes or excludes your portion of the loan liability.
Options available in QDRO drafting:
- Award percentage of the net balance (excluding the loan)
- Award percentage of the gross balance (including the loan)
- Award dollar amount from the remaining loan-free funds
This decision matters because loans must be repaid by the participant—not the alternate payee. And any misunderstanding can cause real money loss if not handled correctly.
Roth vs. Traditional Accounts
Some plans allow for both pre-tax (traditional 401(k)) and after-tax Roth contributions. If your spouse has both types of subaccounts in the Hope Media Group 403(b) Retirement Plan, your QDRO needs to treat them separately.
Key points to address in the QDRO:
- Whether the division applies to Roth, traditional, or both account types
- If the alternate payee’s share will retain Roth or pre-tax tax treatment
- Whether transfers to an IRA will preserve the tax classification
Drafting and Filing the QDRO
Proper QDRO drafting ensures your share is secure and enforceable. At PeacockQDROs, we draft the QDRO based on your actual agreement (or court order), get it preapproved when possible, and then walk it through court and submission to the plan administrator.
The plan administrator for the Hope Media Group 403(b) Retirement Plan is not publicly identified as of now, so you or your legal team will need to confirm administrative details directly with the employer or plan materials. Because this is a private-sector Business Entity operating in the General Business industry, it is likely administered by a major provider such as Fidelity, Empower, or Vanguard—but confirmation is essential.
Avoiding Common 401(k) QDRO Pitfalls
People often make mistakes dividing 401(k)s during divorce, including:
- Not accounting for vesting schedules
- Failing to specify which types of contributions are awarded
- Misunderstanding the effect of loans
- Overlooking different tax treatment of Roth vs. traditional balances
- Drafting language that doesn’t meet plan administrator requirements
We maintain near-perfect reviews and pride ourselves on a track record of doing things the right way. To learn more about how to avoid mistakes, check out our guide on common QDRO mistakes.
Plan Administrator Details and What You’ll Need
Since the Hope Media Group 403(b) Retirement Plan doesn’t publicly list its Plan Number or EIN, those details must be obtained directly from HR or plan statements. They are required for your QDRO to be processed. You may also need:
- Copy of the divorce decree or marital settlement agreement
- Most recent plan statement
- Contact information for the employer or plan administrator
- Full participant and alternate payee legal names, birthdates, and addresses
How Long Will the Process Take?
Several factors determine how long your Hope Media Group 403(b) Retirement Plan QDRO will take, including court delays, whether the plan requires pre-approval, and how fast the plan administrator processes it after approval. See our breakdown of the 5 factors that determine how long a QDRO takes.
Why Choose PeacockQDROs?
You get more than just a drafted document. We guide you through logical division strategies based on your specific situation, draft the order the plan will accept, file it with the court, and chase it through to implementation. We check in and follow up—because we know what’s at stake.
If you’re unsure whether your divorce judgment divides the Hope Media Group 403(b) Retirement Plan properly or you need help getting started with the QDRO, let’s talk. Explore our full range of QDRO services here.
Final Thoughts
The Hope Media Group 403(b) Retirement Plan may seem like just another account, but in divorce, dividing it the wrong way can cost thousands. Vesting rules, Roth distinctions, and loan balances can make a mess of a poorly drafted QDRO. Don’t go it alone—get legal help from professionals who’ve done this a thousand times before.
If your divorce was in California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, or North Dakota, and you have questions about qualified domestic relations orders or dividing retirement assets like the Hope Media Group 403(b) Retirement Plan, contact PeacockQDROs. We specialize in QDROs and have successfully processed thousands of orders from start to finish.
Get the answers you need—explore our QDRO resources or reach out for personalized help if you’re in one of our service states.