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A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is a court order that allows the pension plan to pay benefits to someone other than the individual participating in the plan. Without the QDRO, the plan cannot legally make payments to a former spouse.

This is possible but very risky, particularly if the plan is a defined benefit plan. In a defined benefit plan, the payment at retirement is based upon many unknown factors, such as years of service, final average compensation and the percentage of compensation in the benefit formula, which the plan can change in the future. A calculation of the future benefit must rest upon assumptions which may or may not prove accurate.

A Joinder is a legal document served on the Plan before the QDRO is prepared which notifies the plan that a former spouse is claiming a right to some of the pension benefits. Once the plan is notified, it generally will NOT make any distributions to anyone until it receives the QDRO. Some plans require a Joinder before they will implement the QDRO.

As reflected in our Engagement Agreement, QDRO Pros, Inc. does not represent you or your former spouse. We purposely remain neutral to enable us to raise issues related to the division of retirement plans which we believe need to be addressed. Therefore, if you have any questions about anything in the QDRO we highly recommend that you have your Family Law Attorney review it. Your signature on the QDRO should be done voluntarily and with complete understanding of the contents of the QDRO. Please be aware, that if you choose to have your Family Law Attorney review the QDRO, there will most likely be additional fees generated by your Family Law Attorney.