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Dividing Retirement Assets in Divorce: QDROs, Traps, Tricks and Military Mayhem
Produced on October 28, 2019
Course Information
Course Description
For every divorce, there is a QDRO. Okay, well for most divorces. What is a QDRO?
If an attorney touches on divorce in their practice, they need to understand the basics of retirement account division (done through court orders called QDROs, DROs, DBOs, QILDROs, or simply “division orders”). These orders balance federal and state law, divide defined contribution (401k, 457, etc.) or defined benefit (pension) plans, and protect important benefits for the non-employee spouse, such as survivor benefits if a pensioner passes away. With all this at stake, it is no wonder that QDROs strike fear into the hearts of many family law attorneys. Many see QDROs as a malpractice time bomb, as it is hard to know if the QDRO was done correctly until decades later, when the parties retire.
This program, taught by family and estate planning attorney Willie Peacock, will define and demystify QDRO terminology, outline a few best practices, and remove the fear that lingers in divorce lawyers’ hearts. In addition, the course will provide a primer on QDROs in the context of military divorces, allowing attorneys to issue spot in complex military divorce and benefits cases.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify different types of retirement plans
- Define best practices for assessing and dividing plans
- Highlight malpractice traps when handling QDRO’s
- Apply QDRO strategies and rules to a few oddball cases
- Discuss the basics of military retirement issues, including recent legal and benefit changes
Credit Information
Faculty
William Peacock
Peacock Planning (Law Office of William C. Peacock)
Willie is an attorney licensed to practice in California since 2011. He has since added admissions in Missouri, New York, New Jersey, Iowa, Kansas, and North Dakota.
He was born and raised in Missouri, went to high school and college in California, and returned there to practice law after attending the prestigious Washington and Lee University, School of Law in Lexington, Virginia. He relocated to New York and relaunched his law firm in 2018, focusing exclusively on retirement – estate planning and division of retirement accounts through qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs).
He has written for Thomson Reuters, Clio, and California Lawyer, and his writings have been cited by the American Bar Association, Above the Law, and other leading legal publications.
He is currently rated a perfect 10.0 by Avvo.com, and more importantly, has a perfect 5-star rating from his past clients on all major review sites.
Reviews
Great information
Good
I need to rewatch and take better notes!
Helpful course to be aware of the pitfalls in dealing with QDROs during or after a divorce.
Best Lawline program I have watched.
I found the presenter, Willie, very easy to listen to.
good job
I enjoyed this speaker
Interesting topic
The presenter's constantly drinking his coffee was very distracting.
love this guy
Speaker clearly explained the differences between plans and pensions state, county, federal.
Very knowledgeable speaker.
Excellent presentation on this complicated topic.
Good
Excellent presentation valuable information
Very informative
Very complicated.
Superb.
Mr. Peacock was extraordinarily knowledgeable.
Interesting and well presented.
Excellent CLE.....Learned a lot and how to avoid malpractice issues as a divorce lawyer with settling cases with QDROs
Great information on a very complex issue in divorces. This is another course I will review again to reinforce the information.
Great lecture!
I like his style. Very dry, laid back and good sense of humor
Attorney William Peacock was terrific! I have a client who is an active duty armed services member & this presentation was extremely useful as he is engaged & wil be married soon.
Great! Enjoyed the class.
Excellent and clear presentation.
One of the best courses I have taken.
The speaker was extremely informative and easy to understand. He is obviously very enthusiastic about his subject matter. Terrific presentation!
Good content.
QDRO is a niche in itself where paying for professional help is probably less expensive than just losing time researching the area.
Enjoyed speaker
I felt the speaker gave a concise explanation of the topics he covered. He did not ramble and get off-topic. Excellent job.
great presenter! very informative
Very knowledgeable.
Wonderful course! Fascinating, engaging and (at times) humorous, but thoroughly comprehensive review of the difficult area of QDRO law. Thank you, Mr. Peacock!
I selected this course based on curiosity alone and was pleasantly surprised. I found this quite informative!
Loved this presenter's energy and knowledge of information.
Excellent program. Mr. Peacock's presentation was informative and entertaining for a difficult and confusing subject.
Interesting course.
Hands down the BEST CLE I've EVER "attended" on retirement division. Mr. Peacock knows his stuff, and exudes passion about retirement division.
So helpful!
Wow! Great presentation.
Very Thorough.
Presenter was VERY knowledgeable and made presentation interesting.