Usual Fees:  $275 for 401(k), 403(b), 457, PERA; $350 for Pension Plans
50% Discount for Multiple QDROs

The Colorado QDRO Process for Saving Money & ASAP Completion

Summary: The following process is used to draft a QDRO, get the Judge's signature, and present it to the plan administrator for the final division of the retirement plan account.

The Process Needed to Create and Process a QDRO (and our Scope of Work)

The following process, in the listed order, works well:

1. We obtain the information needed;

2. We draft the QDRO, with the drafting attorney's name (Maurice Johnson) and address listed on it; (to give the court some comfort, as is required by the Colorado court rules);

3. We provide a draft to both former spouses (or their attorneys if they have counsel) for their review;

4. We fax or email a copy to the plan administrator for preliminary approval;

5. We request both former spouses (and their attorneys if they have counsel) to sign the QDRO;

6. One of the former spouses (usually the Alternate Payee, who gets the benefit of the QDRO) sends the signed QDRO to the court for the Judge's signature;

7. After receiving the signed copy back from the court, one of the former spouses obtains a certified copy from the clerk of the court (about $23.00); and

8. One of the former spouses sends a court-certified copy to the plan administrator for final processing.

9. After final processing by the plan administrator, the former spouse who gets the QDRO portion (Alternate Payee) can exercise his or her options (such as remove that portion from the control of the plan administrator) such as taking cash out.

If one of the spouses will not cooperate to sign the QDRO, a Rule 70 motion can be used to get the Clerk of the Court to sign off for that spouse.