Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDRO)
A QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) is a special type of court order that allows the division of retirement plan benefits between parties in a dissolution of marriage and/or legal separation. A QDRO (pronounced “quad-row”) is a specific type of order that recognizes the right of an “alternate payee” (i.e., legally separated spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, child and/or other dependent) to receive all or part of a retirement plan of the participant. It is usually required when dividing one of the party’s retirement plan benefits such as a pension, 401(k) plan, federal or state retirement benefit (TSP account) in a divorce. A QDRO or similar order is usually required when dividing any type of employer-sponsored retirement in a divorce proceeding.
Family Law
Family law (also called matrimonial law or the law of domestic relations) is an area of the law that deals with family matters and domestic relations. QDRO practice is a niche specialty in the general area of family law.
Estate Planning
Estate planning is the process by which an individual or family arranges the transfer of assets in anticipation of death. Estate planning also includes preparation of documents such as Power of Attorney (POA) or Medical Power of Attorney. An estate plan aims to preserve the maximum amount of wealth possible for the intended beneficiaries and flexibility for the individual prior to death. A major concern for drafters of estate plans is federal and state tax law.