Introduction
Dividing a retirement account during divorce isn’t just about splitting a balance in half. For plans like the Citadel Security Group, LLC 401(k) Plan, the process requires a specialized court order known as a QDRO, or Qualified Domestic Relations Order. Without it, the non-employee spouse (known as the “alternate payee”) has no legal right to a share of the account.
At PeacockQDROs, we’ve helped thousands of clients through the QDRO process from beginning to end. Our team doesn’t stop at just writing the QDRO — we help with preapproval, court processing, and submitting it to the plan administrator. Here’s what you need to know if you’re dividing the Citadel Security Group, LLC 401(k) Plan in a divorce.
Plan-Specific Details for the Citadel Security Group, LLC 401(k) Plan
Before beginning a QDRO, it’s important to understand the specific retirement plan in question. Here are the known details for the Citadel Security Group, LLC 401(k) Plan:
- Plan Name: Citadel Security Group, LLC 401(k) Plan
- Sponsor: Citadel security group, LLC 401(k) plan
- Plan Address: 20250721094241NAL0000558531001, 2024-01-01
- Plan Status: Active
- Industry: General Business
- Organization Type: Business Entity
- EIN and Plan Number: Required as part of QDRO documentation (but currently unknown from public data; will need confirmation from plan documents or participant)
- Participants, Plan Year, Assets, Effective Date: Unknown at this time (custom research may be needed during the QDRO process)
Because this is a 401(k), there are several special considerations when drafting and submitting a QDRO.
What Is a QDRO and Why Do You Need One?
A QDRO is a court order that tells the plan administrator how to divide retirement assets in a divorce. Without it, the plan legally cannot pay any portion of the account to a spouse or former spouse, no matter what your divorce judgment says.
For the Citadel Security Group, LLC 401(k) Plan, the QDRO must follow both federal ERISA rules and the specific formatting requirements of the plan administrator. If any required detail—such as the plan number or date of division—is missing or inaccurate, the administrator may reject the QDRO and delay the process.
Key Issues When Dividing the Citadel Security Group, LLC 401(k) Plan
Every 401(k) plan has unique characteristics. Here’s what divorcing spouses should consider when dealing with this plan:
Employee and Employer Contributions
401(k) plans often include both employee deferrals and employer match or profit-sharing contributions. Only the portions earned during the marriage are “marital property” in most states.
Employer contributions may also be subject to vesting schedules. If the employee hasn’t worked at the company long enough to fully vest, some of those funds may not be available to divide. The QDRO should clearly specify what happens if the employee is only partially vested.
Vesting and Forfeitures
The plan could include a multi-year vesting schedule for employer contributions. For example, a “6-year graded schedule” may vest 20% per year starting in the second year of employment. If the employee isn’t 100% vested, some employer funds will eventually revert to the plan if the employee separates before full vesting.
A proper QDRO can include a clause to assign the alternate payee their proportional share of whatever becomes vested over time—or lock in the value as of the division date.
Existing Loan Balances
If the employee has borrowed from their 401(k), that loan reduces the actual account balance available for division. Some plans treat the loan as part of the marital value and assign the debt proportionally. Others exclude it entirely from the alternate payee’s share. The QDRO must state how to handle the loan balance to avoid confusion or rejection.
Roth vs. Traditional Subaccounts
Many 401(k)s include both pre-tax (Traditional) and after-tax (Roth) contributions. These must be allocated separately, because they’re taxed differently:
- Traditional: Tax-deferred; withdrawals are taxable later
- Roth: Contributions paid with after-tax dollars; qualified withdrawals are tax-free
The QDRO should say whether the alternate payee gets a share of both account types, and how each is calculated. If not, the plan may divide only one portion or reject the order outright.
What to Include in a QDRO for the Citadel Security Group, LLC 401(k) Plan
Although each plan has unique requirements, most QDROs for a 401(k) like this one will need:
- Plan name: Citadel Security Group, LLC 401(k) Plan
- Plan sponsor: Citadel security group, LLC 401(k) plan
- Participant name and contact details
- Alternate payee name and contact details
- Marital division date (usually the date of separation or divorce)
- Exact formula or percentage to divide the account
- Clear language regarding Roth/traditional accounts
- Loan allocation, if applicable
- Handling of investment gains or losses after the division date
- Vesting-related instructions, if unvested employer funds exist
If any required detail is missed, your QDRO may be rejected by the administrator. This can set you back by weeks—or months.
Timing and Process: How Long Does It Take?
Dividing the Citadel Security Group, LLC 401(k) Plan won’t happen overnight. The process includes:
- Negotiating terms in divorce
- Drafting the QDRO
- Submitting for preapproval (if the plan allows)
- Filing with the court
- Submitting the signed order to the plan administrator
- Waiting for plan processing and account split
On average, it takes several weeks to several months. The timeline depends on how quickly each step is handled. We’ve outlined the major timing factors in our resource here: How Long Does It Take to Get a QDRO Done?
How PeacockQDROs Can Help
At PeacockQDROs, we don’t just write the document and wish you luck. We handle everything: QDRO drafting, preapproval (if required), filing, service, and follow-up until the benefits are divided. Here’s why more clients are choosing our team:
- Thousands of successful QDROs completed
- Full-service process from start to finish
- Experience with General Business sector retirement plans
- Support for complex issues like Roth accounts, loans, and vesting
- Avoid common QDRO errors
- Near-perfect reviews and top-rated client service
We’ve helped people through divorces involving all types of employer-sponsored retirement plans. And we know what it takes to satisfy both the court and the plan administrator.
Want to learn more? Start with our QDRO information center or contact us today to find out how we can help.
Final Thoughts
The Citadel Security Group, LLC 401(k) Plan is no different from other employer-managed retirement accounts when it comes to divorce—it must be divided properly using a court-approved QDRO. But the unique details of this plan, combined with potential issues like loan balances and Roth subaccounts, make getting it right even more important.
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 Citadel Security Group, LLC 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.