QDROs and DROs for New York

New York QDRO Preparation At the time of divorce or dissolution of marriage, plan benefits may be divided between the participant or member and that person’s spouse. In order to effectuate a division of the pension benefits in the state of New York, a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO or DRO) must be prepared and submitted to the Plan Administrator. The Orders generated by our online service are specific to each System or Plan.

Types of Plans(all QDROs are $299)


QDRO New York Defined Benefit Plans ….. Start Now Start Now
QDRO New York Defined Contribution Plans
  • Traditional Plan
  • 401(k) Plan
  • Profit Sharing Plan
  • Savings Plan
  • TIAA Plan
  • Individual Retirement Account (IRA)
  • Deferred Compensation Plan (457b and 457f)
  • Read About Plans
….. Start Now Start Now
QDRO Federal Government Plans
  • Civil Service Retirement System
  • Federal Employees Retirement System
  • Thrift Savings Plan
  • Read About Plans
….. Start Now Start Now
QDRO New York State & Local Employees Retirement System
Read About Plans
….. Start Now Start Now
QDRO New York State & Local Police & Fire Retirement System
Read About Plans
….. Start Now Start Now
QDRO Military Retirement System (MRS) ….. Start Now Start Now
QDRO Railroad Retirement System (RRS) ….. Start Now Start Now
QDRO QDRO to Collect Past Due Child Support

Overview of a New York QDRO and Dividing New York Retirement Accounts

In New York, vested pensions are marital property. Vesting means that the worker spouse has met all the requirements for receipt of the pension. Unvested pensions are not marital property. Until the pension has vested, the worker spouse has only an expectancy of interest in the pension.

In New York, the court may include the retirement benefits and plans earned by both spouses as marital assets available for division. Retirement benefits vary greatly but can generally be divided into two groups:

  • Defined Contribution Plans: A defined amount of money belonging to the employee. The employee and/or the employer make defined contributions. The balance of the plan is constantly changing, but its value is definable at any given point. 401(k)’s, 403(b)’s and profit sharing plans fall into this category.
  • Defined Benefit Plans: A retirement benefit where an employer promises to pay a benefit to an employee sometime in the future, based upon some type of formula. Normally, this formula is based on the employee’s salary near the end of his or her career and the number of years he or she worked for the employer before retirement. Defined benefit plans are much more complicated to value and often require the professional evaluation of an actuary to determine exact values.

In New York, if spouses share in each other’s retirement or pension plan, a Qualified Domestic Relations Order must be completed. A QDRO is a written set of instructions that explains to a plan administrator that two parties are dividing pension benefits. The instructions set forth the terms and conditions of the distribution - how much of the benefits are to be paid to each party, when such benefits can be paid, and how such benefits should be paid.

….. Start Now Start Now
Start Your QDRO


Questions? Call
1-877-770-2270
Free Consultation


Service of Pension Appraisers, Inc. - Since 1989

BBB Rating

Preparing QDROs for 35 Years

We also value pensions online at:
PensionAppraisalDesk.com & PensionAppraisers.com
Buy now with PayPal
BBB Accredited Business