Introduction
Dividing retirement accounts during divorce can be one of the most complex—and financially significant—aspects of your settlement. If you or your spouse have a retirement account with the Kantar 401(k) Plan, you’ll likely need a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) to divide that account properly. The QDRO ensures that each party receives their legal share without taxes or penalties. As QDRO attorneys at PeacockQDROs, we’ve helped thousands through every step of this process, and we’ll break down exactly what you need to know about the Kantar 401(k) Plan.
What Is a QDRO?
A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is a court order that tells a retirement plan administrator how to divide retirement benefits between a participant and an alternate payee—typically a former spouse—after a divorce. Without one, the plan cannot legally transfer funds to anyone other than the account holder without triggering taxes and penalties.
Plan-Specific Details for the Kantar 401(k) Plan
Before working on a QDRO, it’s essential to understand the plan in question. Here’s what we know about the Kantar 401(k) Plan:
- Plan Name: Kantar 401(k) Plan
- Sponsor: Kantar, LLC
- Address: 3 WTC, Floor 35
- Plan Number: Unknown (required during QDRO drafting)
- EIN: Unknown (required during QDRO drafting)
- Industry: General Business
- Organization Type: Business Entity
- Status: Active
When preparing a QDRO for the Kantar 401(k) Plan, your attorney will need to obtain the plan number and EIN, as these are required by the plan administrator for processing the order. Even though these are currently unknown, they are almost always available through the employer or by reviewing the plan’s Summary Plan Description (SPD).
Key Issues When Dividing the Kantar 401(k) Plan
Since the Kantar 401(k) Plan is a defined contribution plan, certain technical issues often arise in division. Here are some key areas to consider:
Employee and Employer Contributions
When dividing the Kantar 401(k) Plan, it’s common to base the split on the account’s value as of a certain date, like the date of separation, divorce filing, or judgment. Contributions made by the employee and employer after that date may or may not be included, depending on your agreement or court order. Your QDRO should clearly state whether post-cutoff contributions are to be shared.
Vesting Schedules and Forfeited Amounts
Many employer contributions are subject to vesting. That means the employee must work a certain number of years at Kantar, LLC before owning the funds. If an account includes unvested employer contributions, the alternate payee (typically the ex-spouse) can’t receive those amounts—at least not yet. If the participant later becomes fully vested, it may be possible to collect those amounts, but the QDRO must be drafted to allow for that future distribution.
Loan Balances and Repayment
If the participant has taken a loan from the Kantar 401(k) Plan, that must be addressed in the QDRO. Loans reduce the account’s distributable value, and most plans do not assign loan obligations to alternate payees. The QDRO should specify whether the loan balance is to be included or excluded in the value being divided. This decision can significantly impact how much the alternate payee actually receives.
Traditional vs. Roth Accounts
The Kantar 401(k) Plan may include both traditional pre-tax and Roth after-tax contributions. This distinction is critical in QDRO drafting because Roth accounts have different tax implications. A properly drafted QDRO must indicate how each account type will be divided, as they are usually tracked separately. Failure to specify this can delay processing or lead to unintended tax consequences.
The QDRO Process for the Kantar 401(k) Plan
Step 1: Drafting the QDRO
The order must be precisely worded to meet both federal ERISA guidelines and the specific rules of Kantar, LLC’s plan administrator. A generic QDRO won’t cut it. That’s why it’s critical to work with an experienced QDRO attorney who understands the subtleties of 401(k) plans—especially one with unknowns like plan number and EIN, as is the case here.
Step 2: Pre-Approval (If Available)
Many plan administrators offer a pre-approval process, where you send in a draft QDRO before court filing. This helps avoid rejections and wasted time. At PeacockQDROs, we always submit for pre-approval whenever possible. If the Kantar 401(k) Plan administrator allows it (we’ll verify this during intake), we’ll make sure your order is cleared before you even file it with the court.
Step 3: Court Approval and Filing
Once the draft is approved (or finalized for filing), it needs to be submitted to the court for the judge’s signature. Then, the signed QDRO is sent to the plan administrator for final implementation.
Step 4: Plan Processing
After receiving the signed QDRO, the plan administrator will review it one final time for compliance. If everything is in order, the Kantar 401(k) Plan will divide the funds according to the order and your instructions. This may involve rolling the funds into an IRA or a separate account under the plan.
Common QDRO Mistakes to Avoid
A large number of QDROs are delayed or rejected due to common errors. These include:
- Omitting loan balances
- Failing to address unvested employer contributions
- Not specifying Roth vs. traditional account treatment
- Using incorrect or outdated forms
- Submitting the QDRO to the court before getting plan approval (when pre-approval is available)
These kinds of missteps can cost you time, money, or even your share of the benefit. Learn more about common mistakes here.
Why Choose PeacockQDROs for Your Kantar 401(k) Plan QDRO?
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, regardless of how complex the plan is—even when key plan details like the EIN or plan number are initially missing.
Want to see how long your QDRO might take? Check out these 5 factors that affect QDRO timelines.
You can also learn more about our services here: https://www.peacockesq.com/qdros/.
Final Thoughts
Dividing a plan like the Kantar 401(k) Plan isn’t just about filling out a form—it takes legal precision, plan-specific knowledge, and attention to detail. With Roth accounts, loan balances, and complex vesting terms, you can’t afford to get it wrong. That’s where we come in.
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 Kantar 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.