If you’re in the heat of divorce and among your assets, there is a retirement plan to be distributed, then you surely need to hire a QDRO attorney. You can’t draft and file this special order, especially since you have no experience handling them.

With a QDRO attorney, you relieve yourself of some potential delays that could hurt your rewards. A QDRO is important to enforce a reward, which ordinarily is not possible without a QDRO order.

Most clients, in a bid to cut costs, work with so-called QDRO specialists who may lack the academic credentials to offer sound advice. They simply use a model supplied by the plan administrators to prepare the order, which is not often wise.

1. Alien language

Attorneys know just the right terms to use while drafting your order. Without this, you miss the golden opportunity to tailor your QDRO to protect your special interest. Most models are drafted with default language preselected for the parties.

Without the expert guidance of a QDRO attorney, you’re sure to miss it. Not only will an attorney save you time, but it also makes the process inexpensive. For instance, less cost in calculating and allocating those earnings or losses on a pro-rata basis.

2. Specific terms of marriage

You might not know this, but your interest is not protected if the model QDRO differs from those in the MSA. The plan administrator may be about to pick out some inconsistencies, but they are often overlooked which could harm your interest in the long run.

To avoid such a scenario from playing out, it is best to work with an experienced QDRO attorney who understands the ins and outs of a QDRO order and is ready to protect your interest going forward.

3. Tax consequences

Some model QDROs tend to allocate tax consequences by default, allowing both parties involved to pay their respective benefit portion. You also may not be aware that parties can negotiate a different allocation of taxes, the reason you need to work with an experienced QDRO attorney.

If you’re currently going through a divorce, you need the best shot at this if your interest must be protected. It calls for working with an attorney who understands the complexities of your case and is ready to walk you through it.

You owe it to yourself to control your money and how your assets are to be divided with your ex. Feel free to give us a call, or perhaps fill our contact form to book a free consultation.