Employee vs. Employer Contributions
Most 401(k)-style plans, including the Cumberland County Hospital 403(b) Plan, include both employee contributions (which the participant puts in) and employer matching contributions. Your QDRO should clearly spell out whether the alternate payee (usually the non-employee spouse) will receive a share of:
- Only the employee contributions
- Employee + vested employer contributions
- Employee + all employer contributions (regardless of vesting)
The vested status of employer contributions is key. If some employer contributions are unvested at the time of divorce, they may be forfeited later unless the parties specify what happens to them in the QDRO. That could mean the alternate payee ends up with less than expected.

