Introduction
Dividing a retirement account can be one of the most difficult — and important — parts of a divorce. If either spouse has funds in the Faith Academy Bellville 403(b) Plan, it’s critical to divide the plan correctly using a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). This specific plan, like many 401(k)-type accounts, has rules around Roth contributions, employer match vesting, and loan balances that need to be addressed clearly in the order.
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 Faith Academy Bellville 403(b) Plan
Before drafting a QDRO, it’s important to know the essentials about the plan you’re dividing. Here are the key details for this retirement plan:
- Plan Name: Faith Academy Bellville 403(b) Plan
- Sponsor: Unknown sponsor
- Address: 12177 HIGHWAY 36
- Organization Type: Business Entity
- Industry: General Business
- Status: Active
- Plan Year: Unknown to Unknown
- Effective Date: Unknown
- Plan Number: Unknown (must be requested during the QDRO process)
- Employer Identification Number (EIN): Unknown (also must be identified before filing)
Because key identifying information such as the EIN and plan number is missing, your QDRO professional should request this from the plan administrator. Without this, the QDRO can be rejected.
Why a QDRO is Essential for the Faith Academy Bellville 403(b) Plan
The Faith Academy Bellville 403(b) Plan is governed by ERISA and requires a QDRO to legally divide assets with a former spouse. A family court order alone — even if signed by a judge — does not authorize the plan administrator to transfer or segregate retirement funds. A properly drafted and approved QDRO is the only way to ensure the receiving spouse, known as the “alternate payee,” gets their share.
Dividing Employee and Employer Contributions
Employee Contributions
The participant in the Faith Academy Bellville 403(b) Plan makes pre-tax or Roth contributions from their salary. A QDRO can divide these contributions on a specific dollar basis or percentage basis, as of a date such as the date of separation or the date of divorce.
Employer Contributions and Vesting
Many 401(k) plans — including those structured as 403(b) plans due to nonprofit or education ties — include matching or discretionary employer contributions. However, these are often subject to vesting schedules. If part of the employer contributions is not vested at the time of the divorce, that portion may be forfeited and cannot be awarded to the alternate payee.
Your QDRO should clearly state whether the order applies only to vested amounts or includes unvested employer contributions, accounting for potential forfeiture if the participant leaves employment.
Handling Outstanding Loan Balances
If the participant has taken out a loan from their Faith Academy Bellville 403(b) Plan, it’s critical to address it in the QDRO.
- Option 1: Deduct the loan balance from the total account value before apportioning shares (so the alternate payee does not bear the loan burden).
- Option 2: Include the loan in the participant’s share so the alternate payee only receives a portion of the net value.
Unfortunately, plan loans cannot be transferred to an alternate payee. If the QDRO is silent, the default may vary by administrator. PeacockQDROs always recommends specifying how to deal with the loan in your order.
Traditional vs. Roth Account Balances
Many modern 403(b) plans, including the Faith Academy Bellville 403(b) Plan, offer Roth contribution options alongside traditional pre-tax contributions. A QDRO must address them separately — Roth and traditional funds cannot be commingled in tax reporting.
For example, a participant’s account might look like this:
- $80,000 in pre-tax traditional 403(b) contributions
- $20,000 in Roth after-tax contributions
If the QDRO awards the alternate payee 50%, you must specify whether it’s 50% of each type or 50% overall, and clarify Roth vs. traditional handling in the order. Otherwise, the plan administrator may reject the QDRO or misapply it.
QDRO Approval Process for the Faith Academy Bellville 403(b) Plan
Here’s how PeacockQDROs handles QDROs for the Faith Academy Bellville 403(b) Plan end-to-end:
- Information Gathering: We identify the plan administrator, request plan documents, and confirm the plan number, sponsor EIN, and current account balances (including Roth, employer match, and loans).
- Drafting: We draft the QDRO to comply with both federal law and the plan’s specific requirements.
- Pre-Approval (if allowed): Many plans offer a review before court filing to reduce rejection risk. We submit the draft for comment and adjust as needed.
- Court Filing: We guide this through the court process or even file it for you in select states.
- Submission and Follow-Up: We submit the signed copy to the administrator and confirm processing.
You can learn more about the timeline and steps in this article: 5 Factors That Determine How Long It Takes To Get a QDRO Done.
Common Pitfalls with QDROs on 401(k)-Type Plans
It’s easy to make mistakes when dealing with these types of plans. Some of the most frequent issues we see include:
- Failing to address vesting — resulting in less money ending up in the alternate payee’s account
- Omitting how to divide Roth vs. traditional funds — potentially causing tax issues
- Ignoring outstanding loans — leading to an unfair split
- Choosing a generic form template that doesn’t meet plan requirements
We’ve compiled a list of the most common QDRO mistakes so you can avoid them before it’s too late.
Final Tips for Dividing the Faith Academy Bellville 403(b) Plan
If you or your former spouse has a Faith Academy Bellville 403(b) Plan account, don’t go it alone. This plan contains features common in business-sponsored 401(k)-style plans, including multiple contribution sources, vesting schedules, and potential loans. A generic QDRO form probably won’t cover all the variables — and that’s what causes QDRO rejections, delays, and costly mistakes.
We maintain near-perfect reviews and pride ourselves on a track record of doing things the right way. Whether you’re unsure what information to include, how to split Roth accounts, or how to handle a plan loan, we can assist. Learn more at our QDRO service overview: https://www.peacockesq.com/qdros/
Need Help? Reach Out Today
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 Faith Academy Bellville 403(b) 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.