36 Years of Family Law Experience: Property Division Attorney

Often, the largest marital assets to pursue in obtaining a fair share of marital property are retirement accounts such as pensions, 401ks, and IRAs. A common misconception among divorcing spouses is that if one spouse earned the pension or other type of retirement benefit, he or she is entitled to that entire asset. This is is usually incorrect, and such a mistake can cost the mistaken spouse thousands of dollars and leave them with nothing for their own retirement. In general, any retirement assets accrued during the marriage until the time of separation, including appreciation, is considered marital property. Any property characterized as "marital" is subject to distribution by the courts in a equitable manner. Every case is different and requires a detailed legal analysis by an experienced Ephrata retirement asset division lawyer such as myself.

Pennsylvania Equitable Distribution of Marital Property

My name is Larry B. Maier. I have extensive experience in divorce financial matters and Pennsylvania property distribution laws. For 36 years, I have assisted families throughout the Ephrata area. If you require representation regarding divorce and the division of retirement assets, I can provide you with quality legal services. Contact an experienced Ephrata retirement asset division lawyer to schedule an initial consultation. Call me at 717-842-4467 or toll free at 888-633-8853.

Retirement assets include:

• 401(k)s
• 403(b)s
• IRAs
• Pensions
• Stocks
• Bonds
• Mutual funds
• Savings plans
• Annuities
• Other investment plans

Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs)

In order for the court to legally assign all or a portion of retirement assets to the former spouse ("alternate payee"), a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) is usually required. This must be done through a court judgment or order and helps parties avoid tax consequences. The most common type of retirement asset that uses QDROs is an ERISA-qualified pension plan.

Contact a Lititz Divorce Attorney

As a divorce attorney, I have advised hundreds of people over my 36 years of family law practice about the equitable division of marital assets in Pennsylvania. If you would like further information about how I can help you, contact me to arrange an appointment. If my office hours of 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. do not work for you, we can schedule an evening appointment.