Understanding QDROs and the 403(b) Thrift Plan for Employees of South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, Inc.
Dividing retirement savings during a divorce is a technical process that requires specific legal steps. If you or your spouse participate in the 403(b) Thrift Plan for Employees of South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, Inc., you’ll need a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) to properly divide the plan. A QDRO ensures a legal and tax-compliant transfer of a portion of one spouse’s retirement account to the other, as part of a divorce or legal separation.
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.
Plan-Specific Details for the 403(b) Thrift Plan for Employees of South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, Inc.
- Plan Name: 403(b) Thrift Plan for Employees of South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, Inc.
- Sponsor: 403(b) thrift plan for employees of south florida science center and aquarium, Inc.
- Address: 20250804070700NAL0000777233001, 2024-01-01
- Employer Identification Number (EIN): Unknown
- Plan Number: Unknown
- Industry: General Business
- Organization Type: Corporation
- Status: Active
- Participants: Unknown
- Plan Year: Unknown to Unknown
- Effective Date: Unknown
Because this is a 401(k)-type plan sponsored by a corporation in the general business industry, the QDRO process must align with ERISA requirements. Corporate-sponsored 401(k) plans often include a mix of account types, employer match components, and possible loan structures, which make proper allocation in divorce especially important.
Employee and Employer Contributions: What Gets Divided?
In a QDRO, both employee contributions made during the marriage and vested employer contributions are typically subject to division. For the 403(b) Thrift Plan for Employees of South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, Inc., here’s what you need to consider:
- Employee Contributions: Usually 100% vested and available for division based on the marital portion.
- Employer Contributions: May be subject to a vesting schedule. Only vested amounts can be allocated to the alternate payee (the spouse receiving the share).
If part of the employer contribution is unvested at the time of divorce, that portion cannot be included in the QDRO and may be forfeited depending on future employment status.
Vesting Schedules and Forfeitures
Many corporate plans offer employer matching contributions that vest according to a schedule—this could be immediate, graded, or cliff vesting. For divorcing spouses, it’s important to determine:
- What portion of employer contributions is vested as of the division date?
- Will any additional employer contributions vest after the divorce?
- Should the alternate payee receive a share of future vesting (typically they won’t)?
Unvested amounts are often forfeited unless the employee continues working at South Florida Science Center and Aquarium and later becomes fully vested. Your QDRO should clearly state what happens if those funds later vest.
Loan Balances: A Hidden Pitfall
If the account holder took a loan from the 403(b) Thrift Plan for Employees of South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, Inc., that loan balance reduces the available value for division. But that doesn’t mean one spouse automatically owes the other extra to make up for it.
Some key questions to address in your QDRO:
- Was the loan taken during the marriage?
- What was it used for (shared marital expenses vs. personal use)?
- Should the loan be factored into the marital value or remain with the employee spouse?
Your divorce attorney and QDRO preparer will need to coordinate closely to ensure loan treatment in the QDRO aligns with the settlement agreement.
Traditional vs. Roth 401(k) Contributions
Many modern 401(k) plans include both pre-tax (traditional) and post-tax (Roth) contribution options. You may need to divide both account types, and they are taxed very differently:
- Traditional 401(k): Taxed upon distribution, with no taxes due until funds are withdrawn.
- Roth 401(k): Contributions made after taxes, with qualified withdrawals tax-free.
Your QDRO should specify whether the alternate payee receives a proportional share of each account type or just a total dollar amount. Splitting traditional and Roth benefits fairly often requires separate line items in the QDRO to avoid confusion and protect tax treatment.
Who Prepares the QDRO—and Why It Matters
Many people mistakenly believe the court or their attorneys will handle the QDRO. In most cases, neither do. You typically need a QDRO specialist familiar with your plan’s language, procedures, and approval requirements.
At PeacockQDROs, we don’t just hand you a draft and walk away. We:
- Draft and tailor the QDRO to your specific divorce terms
- Submit it for preapproval if the plan accepts pre-review
- File the order with the court
- Send the final order to the plan administrator
- Track and confirm plan approval
This full-service approach ensures the order is actually implemented—an often-overlooked final step that’s required to receive your share of the account.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The process of dividing the 403(b) Thrift Plan for Employees of South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, Inc. isn’t just filling out a form. Mistakes can delay or even prevent your distribution. Learn more about common QDRO mistakes and how to avoid them.
Examples of issues we see:
- Failing to address loan balances
- Improper division of Roth vs traditional assets
- Referring to unvested employer contributions as divisible
- Not using the formal plan name required (“403(b) Thrift Plan for Employees of South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, Inc.”)
- Submitting incomplete or improperly executed orders
How Long Will It Take?
QDRO timelines depend on several factors. We’ve written about the five factors that determine QDRO timing, but the key takeaway is that planning early and using an experienced team like PeacockQDROs improves the speed and accuracy of the process.
Documentation You’ll Need
To get started with your QDRO for the 403(b) Thrift Plan for Employees of South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, Inc., gather these documents:
- Final judgment of divorce or legal separation
- Settlement agreement if applicable
- Plan administrator contact information
- Participant’s most recent plan statement
- EIN and Plan Number (if known—they are currently listed as unknown, but administrators may provide them)
Even if the EIN and plan number are unavailable, documents bearing the official legal plan name “403(b) Thrift Plan for Employees of South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, Inc.” are critical for accurate QDRO drafting and acceptance.
Why PeacockQDROs?
We handle each step of the process professionally, from initiation to confirmation of approval by the plan administrator. Our team has near-perfect reviews and a strong reputation for getting QDROs done the right way, the first time.
Explore our full range of QDRO services at PeacockQDROs or contact us directly if you’re dealing with the 403(b) Thrift Plan for Employees of South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, Inc.
Final Thoughts
Dividing retirement plans like the 403(b) Thrift Plan for Employees of South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, Inc. during divorce shouldn’t be a guessing game. You need accuracy, clear communication, and legal compliance. That’s what PeacockQDROs delivers—from start to finish.
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 403(b) Thrift Plan for Employees of South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, Inc., 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.