Download our Fee Schedule.
$500 Flat Fee QDRO Preparation – Our Most Popular Service
Note: The flat fee can be split equally between the parties.
Our flat fees include Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) preparation, provision of a draft to both the parties and plan administrator for review and approval, any revisions requested by the parties and plan administrator prior to approval of the order, and finalization of a QDRO. The final QDRO will be supplied to the parties to sign and file with the court by mail (detailed instruction letter provided as part of our service). The parties will also need to send a copy of the court filed Order to the retirement plan administrator. QDRO Helper can file the Order and send a certified copy to the retirement plan administrator for an additional fee ($150 per Order – see below).
The flat fee service is only appropriate where the parties have a marital settlement agreement (MSA) or judgment that clearly specifies how the retirement plan benefits are to be divided between the parties, or the parties will be able provide QDRO Helper with a written agreement regarding the division of benefits. When drafting a flat fee QDRO, the attorneys at QDRO Helper are acting as a neutral retained to draft a document; the attorneys do not represent either party and will not act as an advocate for either party. If you want an attorney to act as your advocate, or if you do not have an agreement with your former spouse, please see “QDRO Preparation – Hourly” below.
Volume Discount: For more than one QDRO per marital dissolution, we charge $500 for the first QDRO, and $450 for each additional Qualified Domestic Relations Order.
QDRO Preparation – Hourly Fee – $500 Deposit Required
If the $500 flat fee QDRO preparation does not suit your needs due to the lack of an agreement between the parties or because you want a QDRO attorney to act as an advocate for you, you can retain QDRO Helper to draft your QDRO on an hourly fee basis. The fee for this service is $200 per hour with a 2.5 hour minimum. In order to begin drafting your Order, we require a $500 deposit.
For this service, an attorney will be assigned your case and will act as your advocate in drafting the QDRO, presenting it to your former spouse or his/her attorney, explaining any requested revisions to you, and taking all reasonable steps outside of court to provide you with a finalized QDRO.
Court Filing Services – $150 Per QDRO
As part of our QDRO preparation services, we provide clients with a detailed instruction letter detailing how to file the QDRO with the court (by mail) and submit the court filed copy to the plan administrator. The court filing fee paid to court is approximately $50 per QDRO. However, for $150, we can assist clients who prefer that we handle the court filing and retirement plan submission for them. This service is only available to our QDRO preparation clients, and when the parties are able to provide QDRO Helper with a fully signed QDRO for filing. This service does not include elisor motions.
QDRO Review – $400 Deposit Required
We can review QDROs drafted by other attorneys or QDRO preparation services. This fee for this service is $200 per hour with a 2 hour minimum. In order to begin a Review, we will require a $400 deposit.
For this service, an attorney will be assigned your case and will act as your advocate in reviewing the QDRO and proposing suggested changes to the other party or the other party’s attorney.
Joinder of Employee Benefit Plan
Some plans require a joinder, which is not included in the QDRO price, but can be prepared by QDRO Helper for an additional $200 flat fee.
To download a PDF of our Fee Schedule, click here. To view this PDF, you may need Adobe Reader – you can download Reader here.