QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order)

A qualified domestic relations order, or QDRO, is a judicial order that can enable a spouse to receive some or all of the other spouses’ retirement plan or pension in a divorce. The QDRO is the legal process in dividing these assets, and is known to be particularly complex. The Jacksonville family law office of Beth M. Terry can simplify the process and ensure that all issues during the legal process are covered completely and accurately.

QDRO’s are typically prepared during the divorce proceedings, but can still be filed years after the divorce is finalized. The retirement assets divided can include 401(k)’s, IRA’s, pensions and other retirement savings accounts.

Law offices may find working through a QDRO particularly tedious, and due to the complexity, errors may be made or factors may be missed. Beth M Terry, P.A., has extensive knowledge in drafting and implementing all types of QDRO’s in many different cases and has the experience and vigilance to smooth out the process.

QDROs and Military Divorce

In the case of divorce of military personnel, the division of assets and can be particularly involved. Serving Northeast Florida, and the large military community here, the law office of Beth M. Terry, P.A., has the experience to accurately and effectively ensure your written order follows the specific rules required to be accepted by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) to divide the military pension.

Dividing Benefits of Civil Government Employees

Similar to military benefits, retirement plans for civil government employees known as the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Division of these benefits in the case of divorce must be accepted by the federal agency that administers the benefits known as the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

Drafting with Experience and Precision

Jacksonville divorce attorney Beth M. Terry, P.A., specializes in the complexities of dividing these assets to make sure the order is recognized by the appropriate agencies and retirement plan administrators. When taking into account the division of retirement assets, some examples of what is important to consider includes:

• Length of marriage
• Calculation of Service Periods
• Rank
• Classification
• Survivor Benefits Protection

Whether looking to divide private-employer retirement plans, military pensions, civil service pensions, 401k’s, IRA’s, city and state employee pensions, Railroad Retirement pensions, profit sharing plans, simplify the QDRO process by contacting the office of Beth M. Terry, P.A., for a consultation.