At QDRO Now!, we specialize in drafting Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs), court orders acceptable for processing (COAPs) and retirement benefit court orders (RBCOs) for various private and public retirement plans across the United States. Our certified family law specialists ensure that your pension, TSP and 401k distributions are handled quickly (often 48-72 hours) with precision and care.
We are based in California but draft documents nationwide. All meetings happen virtually. We can normally draft your retirement benefits order in 48-72 hours and we guarantee acceptance by the plan.
Your retirement pension or tax deferred retirement account (401k or TSP) is often the most valuable marital asset and the least discussed. Most divorce lawyers do not know how to draft Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs) or COAPs (for Federal pensions and TSPs) and they simply leave it for you to handle with an expert of your choosing. Your divorce is never really final until these orders are accepted by the Plan Administrator. QDRO Now! is a division of Egan Law, a family law and probate firm operating on California's central coast.
Dividing retirement assets properly is highly technical work. Failure to do so properly or in a timely manner exposes you to tax liability and even potential loss of the asset. With many plans, if your ex-spouse dies before retiring, your interest can be lost if you do not have an order for division. Survivor benefits could also pass to a new spouse.
You are at risk until you get this last step completed.
Most family law attorneys get your divorce deceee finalized and leave you to preparing the retirement division orders acceptable. But if you or your spouse retires or dies before division, the asset can be lost. Sometimes it can take years for people to file the retirement division orders and finally finish their divorce. We make the process quick, efficient and cost-effective and we guarantee that the Orders will be done correctly and accepted by the Plan Administrator, finally taking care of the last step in your divorce.
A strategy session is a meeting with a legal professional to determine the best course for you regarding the retirement asset. Most plans have several different options (including survivor benefit annuities and segregation of accounts). With QDRO Now!, you can book a strategy session with a legal professional to determine the best course of action for you. It is a little known and not often discussed fact that a QDRO (catch all term for any retirement division order) is an advocacy document, meaning it advocates a position for the drafting party (you). Most judges and family lawyers treat the QDRO as a "neutral document" and order the cost of preparation shared by the parties. My best advice to you is to always offer to draft the QDRO and agree to pay for it. This gives you control over the document and the decision-making. Book an appointment for a strategy session to learn your options and how to best set yourself up for success in the future.
Of course, you can treat the QDRO as a "neutral document," which is what 90% of people do. This does not require a strategy session. We will ask you for pertinent information and use that information to draft the proposed order. We can draft an order for virtually all public or private plans in the country with a few pieces of information.
We differ from other QDRO drafting companies by offering a reasonable price and quick turnaround for neutral documents, but permit you to book strategy sessions to meet with a professional to discuss options and develop your strategy.
This is likely the most valuable asset you own. For peace of mind, or for additional advocacy (the lawyer working to protect you), you may want to book a strategy session with a lawyer to discuss maximal protection strategies. A strategy session can provide a layer of protection foe your interest in the retirement asset. This may well be the very best investment you make in your divorce because.
We started this service because we found that the QDRO and COAP prep companies do not have attorneys available to strategize and answer questions, while full-service law firms are expensive. You can engage us inexpensively for a "neutral" document or strategize with us for a more tailored advocacy order.