QDRO

A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is a court order that recognizes an alternate payee's right to receive all or a portion of a retirement-plan benefit. It is required to divide a qualified retirement plan (401(k), pension) in divorce without triggering early-withdrawal penalties.

QDROs must comply with both ERISA and the plan administrator's requirements; off-the-shelf templates often fail plan-administrator review.

QDRO drafting is one of the workflows in the family-law workspace.