Introduction
Dividing retirement assets during a divorce can often be one of the most overlooked—and misunderstood—parts of the marital property split. If one spouse participates in the Horizon Home Care & Hospice, Inc.. 403(b) Retirement Plan, you may need a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) to ensure everything is divided legally and correctly.
At PeacockQDROs, we’ve handled thousands of QDROs from start to finish. That means we don’t just draft the order—we guide you through the entire process from pre-approval through court filing and final approval by the plan administrator. This article breaks down what to expect when dividing the Horizon Home Care & Hospice, Inc.. 403(b) Retirement Plan during your divorce.
What Is a QDRO and Why You Need One
A QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) is a court order that lets a retirement plan administrator know that a portion of a participant’s account should be paid to an alternate payee, typically a former spouse. Without a QDRO, the plan will not—and legally cannot—pay benefits to anyone other than the participant.
For corporate-sponsored plans like the Horizon Home Care & Hospice, Inc.. 403(b) Retirement Plan, a QDRO is required for any division of the retirement account that results from divorce, even if your divorce judgment or settlement says otherwise.
Plan-Specific Details for the Horizon Home Care & Hospice, Inc.. 403(b) Retirement Plan
- Plan Name: Horizon Home Care & Hospice, Inc.. 403(b) Retirement Plan
- Sponsor Name: Horizon home care & hospice, Inc.. 403(b) retirement plan
- Address: 11002 W Park PI
- Plan Number: Unknown (must be obtained during QDRO processing)
- EIN: Unknown (must be requested as part of plan due diligence)
- Industry: General Business
- Organization Type: Corporation
- Plan Year: Unknown to Unknown
- Effective Date: Unknown
- Status: Active
Because some of the essential data like plan number and EIN are missing in public sources, our QDRO attorneys at PeacockQDROs can assist in retrieving this information directly from the plan administrator as part of our full-service process.
Key QDRO Considerations for This 401(k)-Type Plan
Although named a 403(b), this plan operates like a 401(k) in structure and is offered by a corporate-sponsored private business in the general business sector. Here’s what you need to consider.
Employee vs. Employer Contributions
Most corporate retirement savings plans like the Horizon Home Care & Hospice, Inc.. 403(b) Retirement Plan include both employee deferrals and employer matching contributions. The QDRO needs to specify whether the division applies to just the employee’s contributions, or also includes vested employer amounts.
Vesting Schedules
Employer contributions are often subject to vesting schedules. This means employees earn the right to those contributions gradually over time. If the participant isn’t fully vested at the time of divorce, only the vested portion can be divided between spouses. It’s crucial to ask for a recent statement showing the participant’s vested versus unvested account balance.
Loans Against the 403(b) Account
If there’s an outstanding loan balance, that amount reduces the total fund value. A good QDRO will address whether loan balances are shared proportionally or excluded. Without clear language, this issue can create disputes after the QDRO is executed.
Roth vs. Traditional Contributions
Many modern 401(k)-style plans like the Horizon Home Care & Hospice, Inc.. 403(b) Retirement Plan allow both Roth (after-tax) and traditional (pre-tax) contributions. These account types are taxed differently at withdrawal, so your QDRO should account for these sub-accounts separately. For instance, the alternate payee may receive a portion from both, or the QDRO may specify one over the other.
QDRO Steps for the Horizon Home Care & Hospice, Inc.. 403(b) Retirement Plan
Here’s the general process we follow at PeacockQDROs when working with this type of plan:
- Gather Plan Documents – Our team contacts the plan administrator to verify rules, obtain missing data (like the EIN), and check if the plan has a model QDRO.
- Draft the QDRO – We prepare the document to reflect terms of your divorce order and plan-specific legal considerations.
- Submit for Preapproval – If the plan allows, we submit a draft version to the administrator before court filing. This step can avoid costly mistakes.
- Obtain Court Approval – We file the QDRO with the court and get it signed by the judge.
- Final Submission and Follow-Up – We send the court-signed QDRO to the plan administrator and follow up until the division is completed.
You can see how our process compares to do-it-yourself or document-only services here: Common QDRO Mistakes.
Timing and Common Delays
How long will it take to complete your QDRO? That depends on multiple factors, including the plan’s responsiveness, courthouse timing, and any complexity in the account structure. See our explanation here: 5 Factors That Determine How Long a QDRO Takes.
What Happens After the QDRO is Processed?
Once the QDRO is approved by the plan, the alternate payee (usually the ex-spouse) will receive their share of the benefits. They can often roll it into their own retirement account or cash it out subject to specific tax rules. Knowing how the account is structured—Roth vs. traditional—can help you make smart decisions about the next steps.
Why Hire PeacockQDROs?
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 document drafting, plan research, preapproval (when available), court filing, and final submission to the plan administrator. We maintain near-perfect reviews and pride ourselves on a track record of doing things the right way.
If you’d like to understand more about how we work, check out our process: QDRO Services.
If You’re Divorcing and This Plan Is Involved, Don’t Wait
Time matters. Delaying the QDRO process can put retirement assets at risk. The participant could retire, withdraw funds, or take a loan that affects what’s available for division. Secure your share or clarify your obligations early in the process.
Final Thoughts
The Horizon Home Care & Hospice, Inc.. 403(b) Retirement Plan includes multiple account types, potential vesting complexities, and the added layer of a corporate plan administrator. Having a proper QDRO drafted and submitted is the only way to legally divide these retirement funds in a divorce.
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 Horizon Home Care & Hospice, Inc.. 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.