What Happens To Stock Options And Retirement Assets?
A highly litigated area involves the division of stock options and retirement assets. Whether options are vested or non vested will affect the division of the asset and the reason for the grant may be important. A community property component is calculable and 50% of the community property component will be awarded to the non participant spouse or alternate payee. The division of the options is typically accomplished with a special court order signed by the Judge after the Decree of Dissolution is signed. the division of retirement accounts is also calculated and those benefits are typically divided by a special order called a Qualified Domestic Relations Order or (QDRO).
