Dividing the Visual Solutions Group 401(k) Plan in Divorce
If you or your spouse participates in the Visual Solutions Group 401(k) Plan and you’re getting divorced, it’s critical to understand how this retirement plan can be split fairly and legally. Like other 401(k) plans, dividing this account requires a properly drafted Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). Whether you’re the account holder or the alternate payee (spouse), the order ensures your share of the retirement benefit is protected and distributed the right way.
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 drafting, plan preapproval (when available), court filing, delivery to the administrator, and follow-up until the benefit is divided. That’s what sets us apart from firms that just hand you a document and disappear.
Plan-Specific Details for the Visual Solutions Group 401(k) Plan
- Plan Name: Visual Solutions Group 401(k) Plan
- Sponsor: Visual solutions group LLC
- Address: 20250418220747NAL0000077696050, 2024-01-01
- Industry: General Business
- Organization Type: Business Entity
- Plan Status: Active
- EIN: Unknown
- Plan Number: Unknown
- Participants: Unknown
- Assets: Unknown
- Plan Year: Unknown to Unknown
- Effective Date: Unknown
Because specific plan details such as the plan number and EIN are required to process a QDRO, it’s critical to obtain a copy of the plan’s Summary Plan Description (SPD) or reach out directly to the plan administrator. If you’re not sure how to get that, we can help point you in the right direction.
Why You Need a QDRO to Divide the Visual Solutions Group 401(k) Plan
A QDRO is the only legal way to divide a qualified retirement plan like the Visual Solutions Group 401(k) Plan without triggering tax penalties. It allows the plan to pay a portion of the participant’s retirement account to the former spouse (called the “alternate payee”) based on your divorce settlement or judgment.
Without a QDRO, even if your divorce judgment clearly divides the 401(k), the plan administrator cannot legally act on it. And if you withdraw funds without a QDRO, they’ll likely be taxed and possibly penalized.
Key QDRO Issues with 401(k) Plans Like the Visual Solutions Group 401(k) Plan
Employee and Employer Contributions
Most 401(k) plans include both employee deferrals (the amount the employee personally contributes) and employer contributions (which can be subject to vesting rules). In your QDRO, you’ll need to decide whether to divide:
- The total account balance as of a specific date
- Only the vested portion
- Only the employee’s contributions (not the employer’s)
It’s common to divide the entire vested balance as of a date close to separation or judgment. But if there are significant employer contributions that aren’t fully vested yet, it’s worth deciding whether those should be excluded, included, or handled separately when drafting the QDRO.
Vesting and Forfeitures
Many plans have a vesting schedule, especially for employer contributions. That means a portion of the retirement money isn’t technically the participant’s until a certain number of years of service are reached. In some cases, an alternate payee may not be entitled to unvested funds—even if those are included in the divorce agreement—because they haven’t become part of the participant’s legal account.
This is a critical issue that often causes disputes. Your QDRO should clearly state whether the alternate payee’s share includes only vested funds or includes potential future vesting, sometimes referred to as “if and when” language.
Loan Balances and Repayment
If the participant has taken a loan from the Visual Solutions Group 401(k) Plan, the plan will report a reduced account balance on the participant’s statement. Some QDROs divide the account “net of loans,” which means the loan stays with the participant, and the alternate payee gets their share unaffected. Others divide the gross account value—including the loan—as if the loan were still in the account.
This is a strategic decision that impacts both parties. Always check whether a loan is present and consider how it’s best handled in the QDRO. We walk our clients through this decision, using their goals and the divorce judgment language to guide the approach.
Roth vs. Traditional Accounts
Many modern 401(k) plans, including the Visual Solutions Group 401(k) Plan, include both pre-tax (traditional) and Roth (after-tax) portions. Roth accounts grow tax-free and have different distribution rules than traditional 401(k) accounts. Dividing these accounts requires special care to ensure the alternate payee’s share maintains the same tax status.
In most cases, the alternate payee receives a portion of each type of account proportionally. It’s important to work with someone familiar with these distinctions so tax advantages aren’t accidentally lost in the transfer process.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Dividing the Visual Solutions Group 401(k) Plan
We see these mistakes over and over:
- Failing to obtain plan-specific procedures
- Using informal or generic form language not compliant with this specific plan
- Including unvested or loan-affected balances without understanding the impact
- Failing to address Roth and traditional account distinctions
Read more about common QDRO mistakes to avoid costly and irreversible errors in your divorce.
The Timing Factor: How Long It Takes
Want to know how long this process actually takes? There are several factors: how quickly your court processes orders, how quickly the plan administrator reviews them, and how organized the documents are from the outset.
Here are five key factors that determine timing.
Let Us Handle the Process from Start to Finish
At PeacockQDROs, we don’t just draft a QDRO and leave you guessing what to do next. We make sure the order is approved by the plan, filed with the court, submitted to the administrator, and fully processed—until your benefit is divided as ordered. Simple, start-to-finish service. That’s how we’ve earned near-perfect reviews and the trust of clients across the country.
Learn more about our QDRO services:
https://www.peacockesq.com/qdros/
Your Next Steps
Gather your divorce judgment and a current statement for the Visual Solutions Group 401(k) Plan. If you can, also get the Summary Plan Description or any QDRO guidelines provided by Visual solutions group LLC. Then contact a professional who knows how to handle it right.
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 Visual Solutions Group 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.