A judicial order entered as part of a property division in a divorce that splits a retirement plan or pension plan by recognizing joint marital ownership interests in the plan, specifically the former spouse's interest in the owner's share of the asset. A QDRO awards a portion of the plan participant's benefit to former spouse and in some cases to a child or other dependent of the plan participant. A QDRO may also be entered for spousal support or child support.
For more detailed information, see our related Family Law terms: