A Qualified domestic relations order or QDRO is a legal order subsequent to a divorce that splits and changes ownership of a retirement plan to give the divorced spouse their share of the asset or pension plan. QDROs may grant ownership in the participant's (employee's) pension plan to an alternate payee, who must be a spouse, former spouse, child or other dependant of the participant. A QDRO may provide for marital or community property division between the participant and the alternate payee, or for the payment of alimony or child support to the alternate payee. QDROs apply only to employee benefit or pension plans subject to ERISA, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the American law governing private sector pensions. Comparable types of orders are available to divide military retirement pay and Federal civil service retirement plans, and for State, county and municipal retiremement plans in most States. QDROs must first be entered by the State domestic relations court and then reviewed by the plan administrator for compliance with ERISA or other applicable law and the terms of the plan.

See also

• Eligible domestic relations order

External link

• http://www.divorcenet.com/divorcenet_2/states/michigan/mi_art05 Retirements Benefits inlcuding QDRO's and EDRO's
• http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/publications/qdros.html Extensive information from the Department of Labor