DOL Regulation - Time and Order of Issuance of Domestic Relations Orders (DROs) (Mar 7, 2007)     (PDF)

Alternate payee, Divorce, Domestic relations orders, Employee benefit plans, Marital property, Pensions, Plan administrator, Qualified domestic relations orders, Spouse. 

This is an interim final rule provides guidance to plan administrators, service providers, participants, and alternate payees on the qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) requirements under ERISA.

Effective April 6, 2007

1. Subsequent Domestic Relations Orders – A DRO that would otherwise be considered a QDRO will not fail to be considered a QDRO solely because the DRO is issued after, or revises, another DRO or QDRO.
    
2. Timing of Domestic Relations Order - A DRO that would otherwise be considered a QDRO will not fail to be considered a QDRO solely because of the time at which it is issued (after the death of the participant, after the parties divorce, after the participant’s annuity starting date)
    
3. Requirements and Protections - A DRO described in the DOL regulation is subject to the same requirements and protections that apply to all QDROs.

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03/2007	DOL Provides Guidance on Clarification of QDRO Rules
03/30/07	DOL Adopts Rule on Subsequently-issued DROs
03/2007	DOL Issues Interim Final Rule Relating to the Time and Order of Domestic Relations Orders
03/28/07	Government Guidance on Qualified Domestic Relations Orders: U.S. DOL Issues Interim Regulations, PBGC Updates its Handbook
03/2007	DOL Issues Interim Final Rule Relating to the Time and Order of the Issuance of Domestic Relations Orders
03/19/07	DOL attempts to clarify treatment of post-death QDROs
03/16/07	EBSA issues regs clarifying timing and order of QDRO issuances
03/12/07	DOL Issues Interim Final Rules on QDROs
03/06/07	DOL Comments Page
03/06/07	DOL News Release