Understanding QDROs and the Bellring Brands, Inc.. 401(k) Plan
Dividing retirement benefits like the Bellring Brands, Inc.. 401(k) Plan during a divorce requires a specialized court order called a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). If you’re going through a divorce and either you or your spouse has participated in this plan, you’ll want to understand how your share of the account will be allocated. QDROs are complex legal documents that require careful drafting to comply with both federal law and the specific terms of each retirement plan.
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 available), filing with the court, submission to the Plan Administrator, and follow-up—because getting it right matters.
Plan-Specific Details for the Bellring Brands, Inc.. 401(k) Plan
Before dividing a retirement account in divorce, you must know details about the specific plan involved. Here’s what we know about the Bellring Brands, Inc.. 401(k) Plan:
- Plan Name: Bellring Brands, Inc.. 401(k) Plan
- Sponsor: Bellring brands, Inc.. 401(k) plan
- Address: 2503 SOUTH HANLEY ROAD
- Plan Year: Unknown to Unknown
- EIN: Unknown
- Plan Number: Unknown
- Plan Status: Active
- Effective Date: Unknown
- Organization Type: Corporation
- Industry: General Business
It’s important to note that both the EIN and Plan Number will be required when submitting a QDRO to the Bellring Brands, Inc.. 401(k) Plan. If you don’t have this information, a QDRO attorney can help you obtain the correct documents through discovery or directly from the plan administrator.
Key Considerations When Dividing the Bellring Brands, Inc.. 401(k) Plan
As a 401(k) plan, the Bellring Brands, Inc.. 401(k) Plan includes several features that can complicate division. Here’s a closer look at the specific issues you’ll want to address in your QDRO:
Dividing Employee and Employer Contributions
Most 401(k) plans allow for both employee deferrals (traditional and Roth) and employer contributions (which may be subject to vesting). A well-drafted QDRO will make clear whether the alternate payee (typically the non-employee spouse) is entitled to:
- Only the employee’s contributions and earnings
- Any portion of the employer’s contributions
- Specific allocation dates (e.g., the date of separation, date of filing, or date of distribution)
It’s common to see employer contributions with a vesting schedule. If the employee spouse has not yet vested completely, that can affect the alternate payee’s total share. The plan may also reclaim unvested funds if the employee leaves the company before fully vesting.
Vesting Schedules and Forfeited Amounts
The QDRO must address what happens with any employer contributions that are not yet vested. You’ll need to specify whether the alternate payee’s share is calculated based only on the vested portion or includes future vesting. It’s vital to know which version the plan administrator will accept.
At PeacockQDROs, we recommend explicitly stating in the QDRO whether future vesting results in an adjusted alternate payee share, or if the award is fixed at the time of division—even if subject to forfeitures down the line.
Handling Outstanding Loan Balances
401(k) loans are another complication. If the employee spouse has taken a loan from their Bellring Brands, Inc.. 401(k) Plan, you must address whether that loan balance is included in the divisible account balance or subtracted before division.
Most plan administrators treat loans as assets still “in” the plan and include them in the account value. But if the alternate payee wants a reduced share that excludes any loan balance, this must be clearly spelled out in the QDRO. Similarly, the employee spouse remains accountable for repaying the loan, even post-divorce.
Roth vs. Traditional 401(k) Funds
Many 401(k) plans include both pre-tax and after-tax (Roth) contributions, which require different tax treatment when distributed. The QDRO must specify how each type of funds is divided. A mistake here could result in unexpected tax consequences for either spouse.
If the alternate payee is receiving both types of funds, they may consider rolling each portion into separate rollover accounts to preserve the tax advantages associated with Roth contributions.
Drafting the QDRO: Avoiding Mistakes That Delay Your Divorce Settlement
The Bellring Brands, Inc.. 401(k) Plan likely requires preapproval, which means the QDRO should be sent to the plan administrator for review before filing it with the court. This step helps avoid costly delays, rejections, or post-judgment modifications.
Unfortunately, many generic QDRO templates fail to account for plan-specific rules, Roth distinctions, loan balances, or ignore vesting considerations altogether. That’s why it’s critical to work with professionals who fully understand 401(k) plans, like our team at PeacockQDROs.
To avoid pitfalls, take a look at our article on common QDRO mistakes and make sure your order gets it right the first time.
Submission and Finalization of the QDRO
Once the QDRO is preapproved and signed by the judge, it must be sent back to the Bellring brands, Inc.. 401(k) plan administrator for final acceptance and processing. They’ll divide the account according to the terms of the QDRO and set up a separate account in the name of the alternate payee.
Timing can vary widely, but certain factors influence how long a QDRO takes from start to finish—including plan review times, court calendars, and administrative processing.
Why Work with PeacockQDROs?
We are QDRO specialists. At PeacockQDROs, we’ve successfully handled thousands of QDROs from beginning to end for clients across the country. Unlike services that just provide a document and leave the rest to you, we manage everything:
- Initial drafting based on your divorce agreement
- Preapproval from the plan administrator (if available)
- Court filing in your jurisdiction
- Submission to the Bellring Brands, Inc.. 401(k) Plan administrator
- Ongoing tracking and final confirmation
We maintain near-perfect reviews and pride ourselves on a track record of doing things the right way. See more about what we do at our QDRO services page.
Final Tips When Dividing the Bellring Brands, Inc.. 401(k) Plan
- Get an updated statement from the plan during the divorce to value the account accurately
- Make sure your settlement agreement specifies how to divide Roth and pre-tax funds
- Include details about loan balances and future vesting rights
- Spell out the relevant division date clearly in the QDRO
Your Next Step
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 Bellring Brands, Inc.. 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.