Introduction
Dividing retirement benefits during a divorce can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re dealing with a specialized plan like the Bricklayers and Trowel Trades Int’l Retirement Savings Plan. If you or your spouse participate in this plan, you’ll most likely need a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) to legally split the account. Without one, you could face delayed payments, tax penalties, or lose your rightful share entirely.
At PeacockQDROs, we’ve completed thousands of QDROs start to finish. That means we don’t just draft the order—we handle preapproval (if applicable), filing with the court, plan submission, and follow-up with the plan administrator. That’s what sets us apart from firms that hand you a draft and walk away.
This article explains how to handle division of the Bricklayers and Trowel Trades Int’l Retirement Savings Plan in divorce, covering key issues like vesting, loans, Roth accounts, and more.
Plan-Specific Details for the Bricklayers and Trowel Trades Int’l Retirement Savings Plan
Here’s what we know about the Bricklayers and Trowel Trades Int’l Retirement Savings Plan:
- Plan Name: Bricklayers and Trowel Trades Int’l Retirement Savings Plan
- Sponsor: Unknown sponsor
- Address: 620 F STREET, NW
- Effective Date: Unknown
- Status: Active
- Plan Year: Unknown to Unknown
- Assets: Unknown
- Participants: Unknown
- Industry: General Business
- Organization Type: Business Entity
Although the plan number and EIN are unknown, we recommend requesting this information during the QDRO drafting process—it’s essential for approval and submission. The Bricklayers and Trowel Trades Int’l Retirement Savings Plan is a 401(k) plan, which means special rules apply around vesting, contributions, and tax treatment.
Why You Need a QDRO
Without a QDRO, the plan administrator can’t legally divide this 401(k) plan. Even if your divorce judgment says you’re entitled to a share, the retirement plan won’t honor it without a separate and properly drafted QDRO.
What Can Be Divided in a QDRO?
You can use a QDRO to divide several types of funds within the Bricklayers and Trowel Trades Int’l Retirement Savings Plan:
- Employee contributions (pre-tax and/or Roth)
- Employer matching or profit-sharing contributions
- Investment gains and losses on both
However, just because funds exist in the plan doesn’t mean they’re all available to divide. That’s where vesting and plan-specific provisions come in.
Vesting and Forfeiture in the Bricklayers and Trowel Trades Int’l Retirement Savings Plan
In most 401(k) plans, the employee’s own contributions are always 100% vested. But employer contributions—such as a match—often follow a vesting schedule. If your spouse hasn’t worked with the employer long enough, part of the employer money may not be eligible for division. Those unvested funds can be forfeited if the employee leaves the job too early.
When drafting your QDRO, it’s crucial to determine:
- What portion of the employer contributions are vested
- The date of separation or divorce that determines what’s marital
- Whether to include only vested amounts or projected future vesting
Some QDROs aim to treat the alternate payee (usually the spouse receiving the benefit) as if they had worked the same length of time as the plan participant, but whether that’s allowed depends on the plan rules.
Handling Plan Loans
401(k) loans are common. If the plan participant has borrowed against their account, that reduces the balance available for division. But not all QDROs handle this the same way.
Should Loans Be Included or Excluded?
You’ll need to decide whether to:
- Include loan balances—treating them as marital debts drawn from plan assets
- Exclude loans—dividing only the net account balance
Each choice affects how much the alternate payee receives. We look at your situation carefully to recommend the better strategy.
Roth vs. Traditional Contributions
The Bricklayers and Trowel Trades Int’l Retirement Savings Plan may include both:
- Traditional (pre-tax) contributions – taxed when withdrawn
- Roth (after-tax) contributions – qualified distributions are tax-free
If the account includes both, the QDRO must state how each type is divided. Some plans even require splitting each by percentage instead of dollar value. Roth balances are often treated differently depending on state law and whether earnings before marriage are easily distinguishable.
Division Options Under the QDRO
You typically have two ways to structure the division of the Bricklayers and Trowel Trades Int’l Retirement Savings Plan:
1. Fixed Dollar Amount
This gives the alternate payee a specific dollar amount—helpful when you’re dividing the account shortly after divorce and know the value.
2. Percentage of the Account
This method is common when markets fluctuate or division happens later. Percentages can apply to:
- Total account balance as of a set date
We help you and/or your attorney pick the most accurate method based on your situation.
Timing and Process of Getting a QDRO Approved
The QDRO process involves several steps:
- Gather plan details and account statements
- Prepare a QDRO that meets the Bricklayers and Trowel Trades Int’l Retirement Savings Plan requirements
- Have it reviewed for preapproval (if the plan allows)
- File the QDRO with the court
- Submit the signed order to the plan administrator
- Follow up until the alternate payee receives payment
Plan administrators often reject QDROs for small errors. Learn about the most common mistakes we help clients avoid.
Want to know how long it might take? Check out the five key factors that affect QDRO timing.
Why Choose PeacockQDROs?
We don’t just give you a drafted document and leave you to figure out the back-and-forth. We’re with you the entire way—from drafting and pre-review to filing and final acceptance. At PeacockQDROs, we maintain near-perfect reviews and pride ourselves on a track record of doing things the right way. Learn more about our process here: PeacockQDROs QDRO Services.
What If You Don’t Know the Plan Number or EIN?
The Bricklayers and Trowel Trades Int’l Retirement Savings Plan currently lacks public information on the plan number and EIN—both key parts of many QDROs. Our team helps you obtain these with a targeted records request or assistance from the participant’s employer.
Conclusion
If you’re dividing a 401(k) like the Bricklayers and Trowel Trades Int’l Retirement Savings Plan, the wording of your QDRO isn’t just important—it’s critical. These plans have specific vesting rules, loan terms, and account types (like Roth) that must be addressed properly for the division to be legal and effective.
Whether you’re the plan participant or the alternate payee, you don’t want surprises when retirement rolls around. Take the time to get it right now with help from QDRO professionals.
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 Bricklayers and Trowel Trades Int’l Retirement Savings 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.