1. Employer Contributions and Vesting Schedules
If the employee hasn’t been with the company long enough to be fully vested, the QDRO must address what happens to employer contributions that aren’t yet earned. If a portion of the account is not vested, it may be forfeited later if the employee leaves the company early. This can reduce what the alternate payee receives if handled incorrectly in the QDRO language.
Pro Tip: Make sure the QDRO includes “coverture fraction” language or clear vesting date references if employer matching is involved and not fully vested yet.

