Understanding QDROs and the The Five Star Travel Corporation 401(k) Plan
Dividing retirement benefits in a divorce can be complex, especially when a qualified plan like the The Five Star Travel Corporation 401(k) Plan is involved. To split this plan legally and without penalties or taxes, a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is required. A QDRO is a court order that gives a divorcing spouse (called the “alternate payee”) the right to receive all or part of the participant’s 401(k) benefits.
At PeacockQDROs, we’re committed to taking care of your QDRO from start to finish. We draft, file, coordinate preapproval (where available), and submit the final order—so you’re not left trying to figure it out on your own. That’s what distinguishes us from firms that stop at drafting the document. We’ve handled thousands of QDROs, and we get it done the right way.
Plan-Specific Details for the The Five Star Travel Corporation 401(k) Plan
- Plan Name: The Five Star Travel Corporation 401(k) Plan
- Sponsor: The five star travel corporation 401k plan
- Plan Address: 20250728134740NAL0001625937001, Effective 2024-01-01
- Plan Number: Unknown (must be requested during QDRO documentation)
- EIN: Unknown (must be requested as well)
- Industry: General Business
- Organization Type: Business Entity
- Participants: Unknown
- Plan Year: Unknown to Unknown
- Effective Date: Unknown
- Status: Active
- Assets: Unknown
As this plan is active and specific data like the Plan Number or EIN are currently unknown, those details must be gathered directly from the participant or plan administrator before preparing the QDRO.
Key Elements to Consider When Dividing the The Five Star Travel Corporation 401(k) Plan
Employee vs. Employer Contributions
Most 401(k) plans include both employee deferrals and employer contributions. In your QDRO for the The Five Star Travel Corporation 401(k) Plan, it’s essential to separate these two sources. Typically, employee contributions are 100% vested, but employer contributions may be subject to a vesting schedule.
When splitting the plan, be clear if you’re dividing the total account balance or just the vested portion. If the divorce occurs before full vesting, the alternate payee may only be entitled to a partial amount of the employer matching funds.
Understanding the Vesting Schedule
In many business entities in the general business sector, employer contributions are vested on a graded or cliff schedule. If the participant hasn’t met the service requirements, some of those employer contributions may not be retained—meaning they are forfeited and not included in a QDRO transfer.
Your QDRO should address what happens if part of the account becomes vested after the divorce but before transfer. Make sure it’s in writing whether the alternate payee gets a share of post-divorce vesting or not—don’t assume the administrator will make that decision for you.
Handling Loan Balances
If the participant took out a loan from their 401(k), this will impact the account value for division purposes. The Five Star Travel Corporation 401(k) Plan may reduce the distributable balance by the loan amount, even if the loan benefits the employee only.
The QDRO should clarify if the loan balance is to be included or excluded from the alternate payee’s share. We also recommend checking whether the loan was marital debt and how that affects the division. If you leave this issue unaddressed, you risk delays or disputes in processing.
Dividing Roth vs. Traditional Accounts
401(k) plans like the The Five Star Travel Corporation 401(k) Plan often include traditional pre-tax and Roth post-tax subaccounts. These have very different tax treatments. Your QDRO must specify whether the award comes from the traditional, Roth, or both accounts.
For example, if the plan participant has $50,000 in traditional and $20,000 in Roth funds, and the QDRO awards the alternate payee 50% of total assets, you must determine if that includes a proportional share from both or only from the traditional side.
If not specified, the administrator may not split the funds correctly, potentially triggering unintended tax consequences for the alternate payee.
How to Begin the QDRO Process for the The Five Star Travel Corporation 401(k) Plan
Step 1: Gather All Plan Documentation
Before drafting a QDRO, request updated statements from the participant and ask the plan administrator for the Summary Plan Description (SPD). You’ll also need the plan’s unique EIN and Plan Number—both should be included for plan approval and IRS tracking purposes.
Step 2: Draft QDRO Language Tailored to This Plan
Because the The Five Star Travel Corporation 401(k) Plan is sponsored by a private business entity in the general business sector, administrators often follow strict protocols for approving QDROs. Don’t use generic templates. The language must address all applicable IRS and ERISA rules, plan-specific procedures, and account types.
Step 3: Submit for Preapproval (if permitted)
Some 401(k) plan administrators will review and preapprove a draft QDRO before it’s filed with the court. If this is available through The five star travel corporation 401k plan, we highly recommend doing it. It reduces risk of rejection after court approval and shortens the processing timeline. Learn more about this and other timing factors here.
Step 4: File with the Court and Submit to the Plan
Once the QDRO is reviewed—or if no preapproval is offered—it must be filed with the family law court, signed by the judge, and then submitted to the plan administrator. At PeacockQDROs, we handle court filing and all correspondence to ensure your QDRO doesn’t fall through the cracks post-judgment.
What Happens After Approval?
Once the QDRO is accepted by the The Five Star Travel Corporation 401(k) Plan administrator, they’ll process the division based on the instructions. The alternate payee may elect to roll over their awarded share into a separate retirement account (typically another IRA), or leave it in the plan (if allowed).
Make sure you ask about benefit distribution forms, required rollover documents, and imposed waiting periods. Our team walks clients through all of this so nothing gets missed.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not specifying Roth vs. traditional account division
- Failing to clarify what happens with loan balances
- Overlooking unvested employer contributions
- Not getting plan preapproval when available
- Using generic language not accepted by the plan
Visit our guide to common QDRO mistakes to avoid issues that could cause unnecessary delays or rejections.
Why Work with PeacockQDROs?
QDROs aren’t just legal documents—they directly impact retirement income. We treat them with the care they deserve. At PeacockQDROs, we’ve completed thousands of QDROs and maintain near-perfect client reviews. Our full-service model means we don’t leave you to handle the hard part—we draft, file, coordinate with courts, and follow through until the process is complete.
Questions? Visit our QDRO resource page or contact us here. We’re here to make sure your rights in the The Five Star Travel Corporation 401(k) Plan are properly protected under your divorce agreement.
State-Specific Call to Action
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 The Five Star Travel Corporation 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.