Dividing the Philadelphia Fight 403(b) Defined Contribution Plan in Divorce
If you’re going through a divorce and either you or your spouse have an account in the Philadelphia Fight 403(b) Defined Contribution Plan, you’re likely wondering how the retirement funds will be divided. This plan, like other defined contribution 401(k)-style plans, requires a specific legal tool called a Qualified Domestic Relations Order—commonly known as a QDRO—to split the assets. Without a QDRO, the plan administrator cannot legally transfer a portion of the account to the non-employee spouse.
At PeacockQDROs, we’ve handled thousands of QDROs from beginning to end—including drafting, court filing, submission to the plan, and following up to ensure it gets processed. We’ve seen firsthand how important it is to get the details right, especially with plans like the Philadelphia Fight 403(b) Defined Contribution Plan that may include varying account types, vesting schedules, and loan balances.
Plan-Specific Details for the Philadelphia Fight 403(b) Defined Contribution Plan
- Plan Name: Philadelphia Fight 403(b) Defined Contribution Plan
- Sponsor: Unknown sponsor
- Address: 1233 LOCUST ST, 2G2L2M3D
- Plan Number: Unknown
- EIN: Unknown
- Type: 401(k)-style defined contribution plan
- Industry: General Business
- Organization Type: Business Entity
- Status: Active
Because of the lack of publicly available information such as plan number or EIN, it is even more important to work with an experienced QDRO attorney to ensure the plan administrator accepts and processes your order correctly.
What a QDRO Does for the Philadelphia Fight 403(b) Defined Contribution Plan
A Qualified Domestic Relations Order legally instructs the plan administrator to transfer a portion of the retirement account from the participant (employee spouse) to their former spouse, known as the “alternate payee.” The QDRO must comply with both federal law and the plan’s specific rules for division.
Without a properly worded and processed QDRO, the plan won’t divide the account—even if your divorce judgment says your spouse is entitled to a share.
401(k)-Specific Considerations in the Philadelphia Fight 403(b) Defined Contribution Plan
Employee and Employer Contributions
The plan may include both employee contributions and employer matching or non-matching contributions. A QDRO can address both, but there’s a catch: employer contributions often vest over time. If your divorce is early in the employee’s tenure at the company, not all employer contributions may be included.
The QDRO should specify whether only the vested portion of the employer contributions is to be divided or include future vesting based on specific terms. We’ve seen countless QDROs rejected or cause disputes because they didn’t handle vesting clearly or accurately.
Vesting Schedules and Forfeitures
Some employer contributions may not be immediately owned by the employee—they become “vested” over time. If the employee leaves the company before fully vesting, the unvested portion can be forfeited. A smart QDRO takes this into account by either limiting the award to vested amounts or specifying what happens if vesting occurs later.
We often recommend including contingency language in the QDRO regarding vesting, to prevent disputes later when reviewing final plan balances.
Loan Balances and Their Impact on Division
If the employee spouse took a loan from their 403(b) account, the outstanding balance reduces the available divisible amount. Should loans be considered marital debt, or excluded from the divisible balance? That depends on your state’s laws and what you negotiate in the divorce.
Your QDRO should be crystal clear about how loan balances are treated—otherwise, the alternate payee may end up receiving less than expected. A good QDRO firm will flag this issue before submission so you can make informed decisions.
Roth vs. Traditional 401(k) Funds
The Philadelphia Fight 403(b) Defined Contribution Plan may contain both pre-tax (traditional) and post-tax (Roth) funds. The tax treatment of these funds differs at withdrawal, and your QDRO should clearly distinguish them.
Mixing Roth and non-Roth funds in a QDRO or treating them equally may cause tax surprises and rejected orders. We separate out Roth balances from traditional accounts in every QDRO when applicable to ensure the division is both accurate and accepted.
Drafting the QDRO Properly for General Business Employers
Because the Philadelphia Fight 403(b) Defined Contribution Plan is operated by an employer in the General Business sector, documentation accuracy is critical—these plan administrators often require exact format, identifying data, and internal review timelines.
You should be prepared to include:
- Full and accurate name of the plan: Philadelphia Fight 403(b) Defined Contribution Plan
- Plan sponsor’s name and address: Unknown sponsor, 1233 LOCUST ST
- Plan Number and EIN: You’ll need to obtain these as part of due diligence for the QDRO
Many employers also require pre-approval of the order before you submit it to the court. At PeacockQDROs, we routinely handle pre-approval when applicable, so you don’t risk submitting an order that gets rejected.
Avoiding Common QDRO Mistakes
Too many people think filing a court-approved divorce decree is enough to divide the Philadelphia Fight 403(b) Defined Contribution Plan. It’s not. Without a QDRO, the plan won’t process any transfer. We’ve seen people come to us years later only to discover their retirement funds can’t be accessed—sometimes after the former spouse has retired or passed away.
Check out our article on common QDRO mistakes to see how to avoid the most frequent errors people make.
Timing Matters
Getting a QDRO processed takes time—but how long depends on several factors. Administrative delays, court backlogs, and pre-approval requirements can stretch the timeline. We cover these in depth in our article: 5 Factors That Determine How Long It Takes to Get a QDRO Done.
That’s why we manage the entire QDRO process—from drafting to follow-up—so you don’t get stuck waiting for months due to preventable hang-ups.
Why Choose PeacockQDROs
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.
We maintain near-perfect reviews and pride ourselves on a track record of doing things the right way. Our team is staffed by experienced QDRO attorneys—not junior paralegals or call center staff—and we’re here to make sure you get exactly what you’re entitled to in your divorce.
Learn more about our QDRO services and get started with confidence: PeacockQDROs QDRO Services.
Next Steps If You’re in a Divorce Involving This Plan
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 Philadelphia Fight 403(b) Defined Contribution 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.