Introduction
Dividing retirement assets in a divorce can be complicated, especially when it involves a 401(k) like the Pace Collaborative, Pllc 401(k) Plan. If you or your spouse has a retirement account under this plan, it typically requires a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) to divide the funds legally and without triggering taxes or penalties. Understanding your QDRO options is the first step to protecting your marital share.
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 Pace Collaborative, Pllc 401(k) Plan
Before beginning the QDRO process for the Pace Collaborative, Pllc 401(k) Plan, you should understand a few important facts about the plan and its sponsor.
- Plan Name: Pace Collaborative, Pllc 401(k) Plan
- Sponsor: Pace collaborative, pllc 401(k) plan
- Address: 20250626091728NAL0005070211001, as of 2024-01-01
- Plan Type: 401(k)
- Plan Status: Active
- Industry: General Business
- Organization Type: Business Entity
- Plan Year & Participants: Unknown
- Effective Date, Assets, Plan Number, EIN: Currently unknown — these are typically required when filing a QDRO and will need to be sourced during the process
This plan is part of a general business operation, which suggests the plan may be overseen by third-party administrators (TPAs), often involving standard QDRO procedures.
QDRO Basics: What You Need to Know
A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is a legal order issued during a divorce that tells the plan administrator how to divide a retirement account. Without a QDRO, the alternate payee (usually the former spouse) cannot legally receive any portion of the plan participant’s 401(k)—and transferring funds without one could cause tax problems.
The Pace Collaborative, Pllc 401(k) Plan is a defined contribution plan, which means you’re dealing with account balances rather than a promise of future payments (like in a pension). This makes timing, contributions, and asset movement especially important during a divorce.
How Employee and Employer Contributions Are Divided
401(k) plans include both employee contributions (what the participant contributes from their paycheck) and employer contributions (matching or discretionary amounts). Here’s what matters in your QDRO:
- Employee Contributions: These are always 100% vested and included in the marital pot if contributed during the marriage.
- Employer Contributions: These may be subject to a vesting schedule. Only the vested portion can be divided in the QDRO.
Make sure your attorney or QDRO expert requests a statement showing vested and unvested balances so your order doesn’t include funds that the employee doesn’t actually own yet.
Vesting Schedules and Forfeitures
Many business entity 401(k) plans, like the Pace Collaborative, Pllc 401(k) Plan, include vesting schedules—typically graded over time (e.g., 20% each year). Here’s what that means in divorce:
- If the participant isn’t fully vested, the QDRO can only assign the vested portion.
- Unvested employer contributions are not subject to division and may be forfeited if the participant leaves the company.
This can drastically reduce what an alternate payee may expect to receive, so don’t overlook this important factor.
Handling Outstanding 401(k) Loans in Divorce
Participants sometimes take loans against their 401(k), and these loan balances can alter how much is actually available to split. Here’s how we handle it at PeacockQDROs:
- A loan reduces the account balance available for division. Whether it’s included in the marital estate can depend on state law and how the QDRO is worded.
- Some QDROs treat the loan as an asset and assign a portion of the balance to the alternate payee.
- Others treat it as a debt, subtracting it from the participant’s share.
Before finalizing your QDRO, review: When the loan was taken, how much remains owed, and what the court determined about responsibility for repayment.
Roth vs. Traditional 401(k) Accounts
Many modern 401(k) plans include both traditional (pre-tax) and Roth (after-tax) accounts. The Pace Collaborative, Pllc 401(k) Plan may have one or both. It’s important your QDRO specifies how each account type is handled because:
- Traditional 401(k) distributions are taxed when taken by the alternate payee.
- Roth 401(k) distributions are tax-free if certain conditions are met, but contributions and earnings must be treated separately for IRS compliance.
A mistake here could cost thousands in unexpected taxes. At PeacockQDROs, we make sure each account type is addressed clearly in the order.
Timing and Valuation Dates Matter
Your QDRO needs to specify a date for determining the value of the alternate payee’s share—usually referred to as the “valuation date.” You might use:
- The date of separation
- The date of divorce filing
- The date of QDRO approval
Consistency matters. If the market has fluctuated a lot, this choice could significantly change the amount transferred. Also, your QDRO should clearly state whether earnings and losses from that date to the actual transfer will be included.
Submission and Follow-Up
Once the QDRO is signed by the judge, it needs to be submitted to the Pace Collaborative, Pllc 401(k) Plan administrator for review. Some plans offer preapproval of draft orders—a step we recommend before court filing to avoid delays or rejections. Read more about this crucial step on our page: Common QDRO Mistakes.
We handle all of this for you—from drafting to submission and ensuring the plan administrator follows through. Our end-to-end service makes the process smoother, more accurate, and a lot less stressful for everyone.
How Long Does It Take?
The QDRO process can take several months, depending on communication with the plan administrator, court systems, and how clean the draft order is. We break down the timeline for you here: 5 Factors That Impact QDRO Timing.
Why Choose PeacockQDROs?
At PeacockQDROs, we don’t believe in just handing over a document and sending you on your way. We manage the entire process:
- Drafting your QDRO based on your divorce judgment
- Submitting a draft for preapproval (when the plan allows)
- Handling the court filing
- Coordinating the final submission and transfer of funds
We maintain near-perfect reviews and pride ourselves on a track record of doing things the right way. We make sure orders are properly worded for complex plans like the Pace Collaborative, Pllc 401(k) Plan.
Need Help with the Pace Collaborative, Pllc 401(k) Plan QDRO?
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 Pace Collaborative, Pllc 401(k) 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.