Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs)Our focus is to reduce the malpractice liability associated with Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs). Our firm also handles QDRO malpractice and Breach of ERISA fiduciary duty claims. In addition to private pension plans, our firm is also familiar with Military Retired Pay, Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS), and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Timing and Discovery are the two (2) most critical issues in preparing for a QDRO. Prompt filing ensures that client benefits are secured in a timely manner. Thorough discovery provides certainty that all appropriate benefits are addressed, while at the same time honoring the parties' freedom to contract. To best protect client benefits, we strongly recommend filing the QDRO concurrently with the final judgment. Future issues regarding the assignment of benefits can be eliminated by simply incorporating the QDRO by reference into the final judgment. Moreover, there is a recent trend in case law that prohibits the assignment of benefits, post-decree, that are not addressed in the final judgment. Services Our Practice Philosophy is Proactive. Our Analysis is Comprehensive. Our Level of Service is Exceptional. From our point of view, a QDRO is much more than a Court Order. To many of our clients, a QDRO helps to prepare them for a change in life-style. Services Include:
Experience Raymond S. Dietrich manages a multi-jurisdictional law practice specializing in the drafting and litigation of Qualified Domestic Relations Orders ("QDROs"). Mr. Dietrich is a licensed attorney in Arizona, Nevada, Virginia, the District of Columbia and Florida. Raymond S. Dietrich is regarded as an expert in the field and he is familiar with both private and public pension plans including: Military Retired Pay, Federal Employee Retirement System ("FERS"), Arizona State Retirement System ("ASRS"), Virginia Retirement System ("VRS"), Public Employees Retirement System of Nevada ("PERS"), and the Florida Retirement System ("FRS"). Raymond S. Dietrich is the author of the book "Qualified Domestic Relations Orders: Strategy and Liability for the Family Law Attorney" (2011 © LexisNexis). Resources Management: Accountability and Control are among our top priorities. Our firm utilizes state of the art practice management software combined with an online database called QDRO Track™ to monitor and manage the assignment of client benefits. We understand the significance of a valuable retirement asset and the impact it may have on our clients' future standard of living. Reporting: A "pending" client benefits report is reviewed each week. Attorney clients are also provided with an annual activity report. Our reporting feature provides accountability to the process. Drafting: Our firm develops its own templates, based on the type of plan at issue. We also utilize HotDocs® document assembly software, which significantly reduces common errors associated with "cut and paste" techniques. Our firm rejects the use of "model" orders, since most Plan Administrators tend to favor the Participant. Our firm is familiar with the QDRO guidelines and procedures of all major Third Party Administrators ("TPAs"), including Hewitt, Fidelity, Citistreet and Mellon. Contact Our firm serves family law attorneys and their clients primarily in Arizona, Nevada, California, Florida, Ohio, and Virginia with special emphasis on Phoenix, Las Vegas, Tampa, South Florida, and Northern Virginia. Attorney clients can retain our firm independently OR they can refer their clients directly to us. Law Office Locations 2332 Galiano Street, 2nd
Floor 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 600 2355 East Camelback Road, Suite 618 871 Coronado Center Drive 877.222.5500
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