Qualified Domestic Relations Order


Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO)

A judgment, decree, or order that gives a pension plan participant access to retirement assets that must be used to pay an ex-spouse or dependent children.

Qualified Domestic Relations Order

In divorces, a court order giving one party a certain percentage of his/her ex-spouse's retirement plan. Usually, the courts split retirement plans in half through qualified domestic relations orders. The spouse receiving benefits from a retirement plan through a qualified domestic relations order becomes responsible for any taxes that would be due on his/her portion of the plan.