Saturday, January 16, 2016

Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs)



What is a Qualified Domestic Relations Order or QDRO?
Some marital assets may be transferred to one spouse by another spouse in Maryland via a court order known as a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). A QDRO can divide a pension, an ESOP or other retirement account.  A QDRO is a court order which recognizes the rights of the non-participating spouse, an alternative payee, who can receive a portion of, or even all of, a pension or retirement plan belonging to another individual.  

How Does a QDRO Work?
Dividing pension and retirement plans between spouses can get complicated. A qualified domestic relations order facilitates dividing the payout of those plans.  Timing can be extremely important when it comes to preparing and entering the qualified domestic relations order with the court in relation to both a retirement or a divorce.

What is the Purpose of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order?
A QDRO can be utilized for assigning current or future retirement or pension benefits as part of the dissolution of the marriage and division of assets. Any alternate payee may receive just a portion or all of the benefits in their entirety.

It is important to speak with a legal professional should the need for a QDRO arise.  The above statement is not legal advice, no legal relationship is created herein, and the above statement is not meant to take the place of consultation with a licensed attorney.  You should always speak with a licensed attorney before taking any legal action.

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