Q. Melanie K. of Georgia asks: "Do I Need a QDRO Even If the Settlement Agreement or Divorce Decree Awards Me a Portion of My Ex-Spouse's Retirement Plan Assets?"
A. Evan from the QDRO Department of Pension Evaluators & QDROS Of Troyan, Inc Associates Group answers: "Yes. A QDRO is required to secure your awarded benefits under the plan; the QDRO is the operative documents used to resurrect the lost marital benefit as a result of Divorce. The operative divorce document simply states the parties agreed upon award from a qualified deferred pay program. The non-pensioned spouse must have the QDRO qualified by the Plan to receive the award. Absent a QDRO your marital benefit that was once safe is lost."
Evan Edelstein
Senior QDRO Analyst