A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is a court issued directive used in divorce or legal separation to allocate retirement plan assets—such as 403 (b) accounts or pension benefits—between parties. It provides the legal authority for a plan administrator to distribute a specified portion of a participant’s benefits to an alternate payee, typically a former spouse or dependent, without incurring immediate tax liabilities or early withdrawal penalties.
To Process an Order
Prepare the proposed Order (or have your attorney prepare it on your behalf) and submit the draft Domestic Relations Order (DRO) to the investment carrier for preliminary review. If revisions are required, the carrier will notify you so that the necessary changes can be made and a revised draft resubmitted. Once the draft receives approval, you may then submit the court certified Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) to the investment carrier for final processing.
TIAA
Submit Original QDRO documents to:
TIAA
Attn: QDRO Unit
P.O. Box 1259
Charlotte, NC 28201
FAX: (800) 914-8922
(for TIAA to review DROs only)
TIAA provides a Sample Model Orders that would be acceptable under TIAA’s QDRO Guidelines. TIAA does not require use of the Sample Model Orders; however, no Order will be qualified unless it meets the requirements of ERISA (if applicable), the Code and the QDRO Guidelines.
To request a model order, contact TIAA at 800-842-2252 Mon – Fri between 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM (ET), or go to https://www.tiaa.org/public/support/faqs/retirement-divorce, which includes QDRO guidelines and more information on the QDRO process.
Vanguard
For brand new DROs, send documents to:
Mailing Address: Overnight Address:
Attn: QDRO Determination Services Attn: QDRO Determination Services
P.O. Box 982902 5951 Luckett Court, Suite A2
El Paso, TX 79998-2902 El Paso, TX 79932
For QDRO documents:
Vanguard cannot accept facsimile copies, emailed, or scanned versions of any court-finalized documents. The original documents need to be mailed to the address above.
Vanguard offers a model QDRO example of how a DRO could be drafted and contains all the required language. Use of the model QDRO is not required and is provided as a courtesy, if requested. To request a model format or procedures, contact Vanguard Participant Services at 800-523-1188.