The Center for Access to QDROs

Unlike other community property, retirement plans are not automatically divided in divorce. Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs) are court orders required to divide retirement assets between divorcing spouses. However, preparing a QDRO can be complex and expensive, and not everyone can afford the cost of hiring a QDRO lawyer. The Center for Access to QDROs ensures retirement benefits division is accessible for low to moderate income family law litigants. We provide consultation, training, legal technical assistance, and QDRO preparation services to nonprofit legal service organizations, self-help centers, and low-income litigants. We provide services for private, public, military, and federal plans. The Center's ability to provide access to QDROs on a large scale is due in part to an exclusive license to use drafting software donated to the Center from QDROCounsel, a legal technology company for retirement division. Grants received, including from the California Access to Justice Commission, support our work. With this funding, the Center for Access to QDROs works to ensure that low-income family law litigants actually receive the retirement benefits to which they are entitled - safeguarding an income that will allow them to live their older years with dignity.