QDRO PROCESS
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From intake to final service, follow these five steps to keep your order package moving and reduce avoidable delays.
🧾1) Collect Info (& payment)
Complete intake details for both parties, case information, plan data, and submit payment to start drafting.
📄2) Prepare Draft Orders
We prepare draft QDRO and supporting forms based on your intake answers and selected plan rules.
✍️3) Collect Signatures
Review the drafts, confirm accuracy, and collect required signatures from the parties and counsel.
🏛️4) File draft orders with the court
Submit the signed draft package to the court for filing and obtain conformed, court-filed copies.
📬5) Serve Court-filed copy on the plan admin
Send the court-filed order package to the plan administrator so they can review and implement the order.
Included with your draft order package
Your package includes more than the draft order itself so you can move from review to filing and service smoothly.
Letter for pre-approval
A transmittal letter to send the draft order to the plan administrator for pre-approval before final court filing.
Letter to serve the plan admin
A service cover letter for sending the court-filed order package to the plan administrator after filing.
Joinders — only when the plan requires them
Some retirement systems require a joinder so the plan is formally joined to your dissolution case before they will review or accept a domestic relations order. We do not sell joinders as a routine upsell: if your plan does not require one, we focus on the QDRO/DRO package only.
When a joinder is required, we can prepare it as part of your matter. You will see where that applies in intake and in follow-up messaging; pricing and filing steps are confirmed for your specific plan and county. For more detail, see the FAQ on the homepage (joinder questions) and the joinders guide for which types of plans typically require joinder.