What is the QDRO process?
As soon as it is known that a retirement plan is to be divided during settlement negotiations, a Summary Plan Document should be requested from the retirement plan and a QDRO drafted and submitted to the plan for pre-approval. Some Plan Administrators will take a few weeks to review and approve the QDRO, some Plan Administrators may take months or even up to a year to review and approve the QDRO. The sooner the approval process begins, the more likely the final QDRO will be ready for entry with the Court along with the final order for dissolution.
