In a dissolution matter involving retirement accounts, a Qualified Domestic Relations Order or “QDRO” is required. This is an order in addition to the Judgment of Dissolution required for the divorce. The QDRO orders the retirement plan to transfer or divide the retirement benefits to the non-employee spouse pursuant to the Judgment of dissolution. Such…
The court recently issued a decision on whether parties living together can be “separated” under the law.
After a major life event such as the birth of a child or a divorce, it is important to revisit your estate plan, including wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations. Too often, a former spouse will be left on inadvertently by the account owner. This naturally creates a problem upon death, when the former spouse receives…
When most people think about the recent recession, high unemployment rates and the near crash of the housing market usually come to mind. But few realize how far-reaching the recession actually was. Consider this: a married couple realizes that their marriage is failing. But the recession has forced money to become tight; and further still,…