Orem, Utah: Skillful QDRO Attorney
A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is required in any divorce in which benefits from one spouse's current pension or other retirement plan are to be shared with the other spouse or a child when they are disbursed. A QDRO is a technical document required by federal law. It is required in many divorces, but few divorce lawyers will draft a QDRO, specifically because it is so technical with many complex requirements.
Graham H. Norris, Jr., Attorney at Law, PC
Qualified Domestic Relations Order Lawyer
Orem, Utah
801-932-1238 · E-mail
QDRO Terminology
Participant - The person enrolled in the retirement plan, and the person who is transferring part or all of his or her interest in the plan to a spouse or child as part of a divorce agreement.
Alternate payee - The person to whom part or all of the benefits from the retirement plan are transferred. The alternate payee may be the spouse or a child of the marriage.
Your divorce attorney may advise you to wait until after the divorce decree is final before consulting an attorney to draft a QDRO to handle the division of your 401(k), military pension or other retirement plan. However, in order for a complete and accurate QDRO to be drafted, it is best to hire a QDRO lawyer while the divorce is still in progress. This is because there are several issues relating to the division of your retirement plan that should be addressed in your divorce decree. Your QDRO attorney can advise you on these issues and consult with your divorce attorney to make sure these matters are adequately addressed in the divorce decree. Issues associated with the division of a 401(k) or other retirement plan include:
- Should one spouse be awarded the accrued interest or should the interest be divided between both spouses?
- How precisely should the benefits from the retirement plan be divided?
- What should happen to the benefits if the participant or the alternate payee dies before the benefit payout begins or while the benefit payout is in progress?
Contact an Efficient and Effective QDRO Attorney
I am qualified to draft QDROs for divorce decrees originating in Utah, Idaho, California or Wyoming. For more information, please refer to my QDRO Checklist and contact me for an immediate appointment by telephone or in person. I can be reached at 801-932-1238 or by e-mail.
Graham H. Norris, Jr., Attorney at Law, PC
| Squire Business Park | 1712 Pioneer Avenue, Suite 206 |
Located Near University Mall
Graham H. Norris, Jr., Attorney at Law, PC proudly serves clients throughout Utah, including Salt Lake City, Provo, Orem, Sandy, Draper, Ogden, West Valley, Park City, Heber, Tooele, Logan, Saint George, American Fork, Spanish Fork, Murray, Utah County, Salt Lake County, Wasatch County, Morgan County, Weber County, Davis County, Cache County, Box Elder County and Summit County, as well as clients in California, Idaho and Wyoming.