Devin, from Cleveland, OH, asks, "Won't the Judge automatically do a QDRO if it's part of the divorce?"
Spencer Olsen from Pension Evaluators & QDROS Of Troyan, Inc Associates Group, answers, "No, all the judge does is divide the marital property as per the law. A QDRO is a special order to actually effectuate the decision and then the draft it will need to the Judge's approval and signature. Retirement plans have their own unique rules and requirements, different from other plans and a judge does not know what each of these plans requires, and that is where the experts must come in. If a QDRO is not done, you will not directly receive any benefits from the retirement plans."