How are retirement accounts divided in divorce?

For many couples, the bulk of their assets are located in retirement accounts. The division of these assets, and the tax consequences associated with such, is a significant concern. Generally, you are entitled to half of the marital portion of your spouse’s retirement accounts and vice versa.

The actual division of the accounts depends on the type of account. For example, qualified plans require a QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) to properly split the account and avoid tax consequences. Additionally, an IRA division needs to be treated as a transfer “incident to divorce” and should be completed within one year of the divorce agreement, in order to avoid the early withdrawal penalty.

Another important, and often overlooked, change that needs to be made, is on your beneficiary designations. You will want to make sure that your former spouse is no longer listed as a beneficiary on any of your retirement accounts, or any other asset that designates a beneficiary. Regardless of your divorce judgment or Will, a company will generally follow the beneficiary designation. Although many individuals assume this is accomplished through the Judgment of Divorce, it is not.

For more information regarding the division of retirement assets, contact the attorneys at Serafini, Michalowski, Derkacz, & Associates, P.C. (586) 264-3756.