Mid Life Divorce: Unique Challenges for q g Baby Boomers and Older - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Mid Life Divorce: Unique Challenges for q g Baby Boomers and Older - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Presenting a live 90 minute webinar with interactive Q&A Mid Life Divorce: Unique Challenges for q g Baby Boomers and Older Couples Strategies for Marital Estate Division, Spousal Support and Retirement Distribution TUES DAY, JUNE 7,


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Presenting a live 90‐minute webinar with interactive Q&A

Mid‐Life Divorce: Unique Challenges for q g Baby Boomers and Older Couples

Strategies for Marital Estate Division, Spousal Support and Retirement Distribution

T d ’ f l f

1pm Eastern | 12pm Central | 11am Mountain | 10am Pacific TUES DAY, JUNE 7, 2011

Today’s faculty features: Leslie Ann S haner, Attorney, Barnes & Diehl, Chesterfield, Va. Paula G. Kirby, Attorney, Paula G. Kirby, S cottsdale, Ariz. S arah McCormack, Partner, Kessler Schwarz & Solomiany, Atlanta

The audio portion of the conference may be accessed via the telephone or by using your computer's

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Division of the Marital Estate Division of the Marital Estate

Sarah McCormack Kessler Schwarz & Solomiany

5

y 404.586.6891 smccormack@kssfamilylaw.com

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Real Estate Real Estate

  • The Primary Residence

Establishing Fair Market Value for Division Purposes Division Purposes

  • Appraisal
  • Market Assessment

If Sharing Proceeds

  • Gross v. Net Equity
  • Profit v. Shortfall

Profit v. Shortfall

Enforceable, Workable Refinancing / Sales Terms

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Real Estate Cont. Real Estate Cont.

  • Secondary Residences / Rental Property

i id

Same Concerns as Primary Residence

Capital Gains Tax Consequences Upon Sale?

  • To exclude profits from sale of home from capital gains tax must own and
  • To exclude profits from sale of home from capital gains tax, must own and

live in property as primary residence for at least 2 out of 5 years ending on date of sale.

  • Individual taxpayers who qualify can exclude up to $250,000.00; married

couples filing jointly can exclude up to $500,000.00. couples filing jointly can exclude up to $500,000.00.

  • If not used as primary residence for the entire time, gain must be allocated

between qualifying and non‐qualifying use (non‐qualifying portion will result in capital gains; qualifying portion will be exempt up to limits set forth above).

If Income‐Producing Asset, Should Impact Alimony Considerations

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Real Estate Cont. Real Estate Cont.

The Oddballs

  • Timeshares

Valuation ‐ Desirability (Really Separable from Value? )

h

  • Lease Purchase Arrangements

Valuation (Income Stream Factor) ‐ Practical Treatment of Division of Payments, If Applicable

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Business Interests Business Interests

  • Valuation

‐ Fact‐Finding Exercise

Where Use of Expert Testimony is Key y y

‐ Three Principal

Methodologies:

1) Market Approach; 2) Income / Capitalized Capitalized Earnings Method; 3) Cost Approach Method.

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Valuing the Corporate Intangible: Goodwill Valuing the Corporate Intangible: Goodwill

  • Personal Goodwill
  • Corporate Goodwill

What to look for:

p

‐ What to look for:

  • “Key man” Employee;
  • Buy‐Sell Agreement Contains

Covenant Not to Compete

  • Immutable Value (location,

product, size of staff that eliminates “key man” factor);

‐ Usually treated as non‐ divisible / non‐marital

  • Marketability for Sale

‐ Treated as divisible / marital ‐ May be taken into account for alimony purposes ‐ Cannot take into account for alimony purposes without “double‐dipping” without double dipping

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Investment Accounts Investment Accounts

  • Critical to keep fair allocation of cost basis

Critical to keep fair allocation of cost basis when dividing, so one party is not unfairly saddled with disproportionate tax saddled with disproportionate tax consequences upon sale.

  • Represent “liquidity” in division of marital

b h f estate, but not the same, from a tax perspective, as post‐tax dollars.

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Division of Debt Division of Debt

  • Common component of equitable

division in our current economy

  • Consumer Debt

‐ If represents acquisition of an asset, party keeping asset also keeps debt also keeps debt ‐ BUT: legal allocation versus practical reality

  • Tax Debts

‐ Realized U li d ‐ Unrealized

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IF YOU DO YOUR JOB WELL CLIENT IF YOU DO YOUR JOB WELL, CLIENT WON’T FEEL LIKE THIS . . . .

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Mid Life Divorce: Unique Challenges Mid‐Life Divorce: Unique Challenges for Baby Boomers and Beyond

Paula G Kirby Paula G. Kirby PAULA G. KIRBY, PLC 8585 E. Hartford Drive, Suite 800 Scottsdale, AZ 85255 , 480‐429‐0900 paula@paulakirbylaw.com Stafford Publications, June 7, 2011

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SPOUSAL SUPPORT ISSUES IN MID‐LIFE DIVORCES O C S

Introduction Each state has its own statutory scheme for alimony, spousal support or spousal maintenance, all of which generally focus on one spouse’s needs and another’s ability to pay. Because the statutory schemes differ, a similar marital fact pattern can create dissimilar results in different states. In most states, an award of spousal support f ll i t i l ill t b t id l it i b f following a trial will not be set aside unless it is an abuse of discretion by the judge or not supported by at least some supporting evidence. See generally, Leslie Anne Shaner, DIVORCE IN THE GOLDEN YEARS: ESTATE PLANNING, SPOUSAL SUPPORT, AND RETIREMENT I C M B A i B ISSUES FOR CLIENTS AT MIDLIFE AND BEYOND, American Bar Association: 2010.

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Premarital Agreements or Postnuptial Agreements

  • Premarital Agreements

e a ta g ee e ts

– Is there a premarital agreement? – Is there a choice of law issue? – Is the Agreement valid, or can it be challenged? – Defining criteria regarding spousal support?

  • Postnuptial Agreements

– Does your state recognize postnuptial agreements? D li t h t ti l t f – Does your client have a postnuptial agreement from another state? – Is there a definitive choice of law provision? Is there a definitive choice of law provision?

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TYPES OF SPOUSAL SUPPORT TYPES OF SPOUSAL SUPPORT Temporary Spousal Support Temporary Spousal Support

Temporary spousal support, also called d t lit t i d d d i th pendente lite support, is awarded during the pendency of a dissolution proceeding. For di i l i id lif ld d divorces involving mid‐life

  • r

elder‐aged clients, this can be a significant consideration f b th for one or both spouses.

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Permanent Spousal Support p pp

An award of permanent spousal support is established in a final judgment or a settlement established in a final judgment or a settlement agreement (marital, property, separation). Permanent spousal support is much more Permanent spousal support is much more likely in a long‐term marriage, which depending on the state means a marriage of depending on the state, means a marriage of from 10‐20 years, or to support a spouse suffering severe medical physical

  • r

suffering severe medical, physical

  • r

emotional needs.

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Rehabilitative Spousal Support p pp

Rehabilitative spousal support is intended to provide a spouse with a stream of income for a period of time d i hi h h b bl b lf during which the spouse may be able to become self‐ supporting through work experience, additional training or further education. The court may reserve j i di i h h f l jurisdiction to change the amount of spousal support

  • r to extend or shorten the period of payment.

Garman v. Garman, Slip Copy, 2011 WL 1844057 Tenn. ( ) d

  • Ct. App. (2011); Meyr v. Meyr, 195 Md. App. 524, 7

A.3d 125 Md. App. (2010); Cartee v. Cartee, 239 P.3d 707 Alaska (2010).

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Less Common Types of Spousal Support

Reimbursement spousal support is a type of support given to a Reimbursement spousal support is a type of support given to a receiving spouse to reimburse the spouse for a particular contribution to the other spouse (e.g., one spouse works to support an attorney while he or she attends law school). See, support an attorney while he or she attends law school). See, e.g., Gonzalez‐Posse v. Ricciardulli, 410 N.J. Super. 340, 982 A.2d 42 N.J. Super.A.D.2009; In re Marriage of Lee, Slip Copy, 2011 WL 227573 Iowa App.,2011. Bridge‐the‐gap support is intended to meet short‐term, post‐ divorce support for specific needs for a spouse transitioning into single life. Some jurisdictions treat BTG support as modifiable, and some as non‐modifiable lump‐sum support. See, e.g., Biskie

  • v. Biskie, 37 So.3d 970, (Fla.App. 1 Dist.2010); Green v. Green, 672

So 2d 49 51 (Fla Dist Ct App 1996)

  • So. 2d 49, 51 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1996).

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Method of Distribution or the Payment of l Spousal Support

  • A. Periodic Payments

. e od c ay e ts Periodic payment of spousal support refers to the payments of an amount at designated intervals, p y g usually monthly, for a period of months or years. These payments remain modifiable through a t d h i h itt d b post‐decree hearing, or where permitted by statute, may be non‐modifiable. Periodic payments usually continue until the designated payments usually continue until the designated term ends, until the paying spouse dies or the remarriage or death of the receiving spouse.

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  • B. Lump‐sum Spousal Support

p p pp Lump‐sum spousal support is paid to the receiving spouse in a single amount at a receiving spouse in a single amount at a designated time or through periodic payments of a specified amount over a defined period of time. For mid life and elder aged clients the downsides For mid‐life and elder‐aged clients, the downsides may include (i) inability of the receiving spouse to seek a modification of support, and (ii) the b l h h l f b possibility that the lump‐sum funds may be mismanaged or be insufficient to provide the lifetime support that is anticipated. Coker v. lifetime support that is anticipated. Coker v. Coker, 685 S.E.2d 70 (Ga. 2009)(absent evidence

  • f payor’s ability to pay, court should not order

lump sum award to wife) lump‐sum award to wife).

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Spousal Support Criteria: Factors to be Considered Considered

  • Many state statutes include at least some of the factors proposed in

the Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act (AZ, CO, IL, KY, MN, MO, MT, & WY); some states provide no specific statutory criteria other than & WY); some states provide no specific statutory criteria other than consideration of the marital circumstances, fairness or reasonableness; and some states look to case law for guidance (AL, GA, HI, IN, MA, MI, MS, ND, OK, OR, SD, UT, & WY). Typically, such f t i l d factors include:

– Age – Health of both spouses Duration of the marriage – Duration of the marriage – Standard of living enjoyed during marriage – Earning capacity – Contributions of each spouse to marriage Contributions of each spouse to marriage – Fault (e.g., adultery, cruelty, impotency, alcoholism, drug abuse, and

  • ther addictions)

– Waste or dissipation of marital/community assets

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Problematic Issues in Mid‐Life Divorce Problematic Issues in Mid Life Divorce

Consideration of the nature and value of property Consideration of the nature and value of property to be awarded Most spousal support determinations consider, p pp , at least in part, the property awarded to the receiving spouse. Though not a “substitute” for spousal support, the nature of the property, whether the property will enable the receiving spouse to be self sufficient and whether the spouse to be self‐sufficient, and whether the property is income‐producing

  • ften

is a considered factor in spousal support awards. considered factor in spousal support awards.

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Age and Health of Each Spouse Age and Health of Each Spouse

  • Age

– Evidentiary Consideration: Matters concerning the age beyond which persons are incapable of competing in the labor market can be the subject of judicial recognition. See 29 Am. Jur. 2d, Evidence § 83.

l h

  • Health

– Physical health – Mental health – Emotional health – Complicating Factors: alcoholism, drug abuse, addictions Evidentiary Consideration: Educate the court regarding – Evidentiary Consideration: Educate the court regarding specific illnesses or physical limitations and the effects on earning ability.

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Earning Capacity for Each Spouse Earning Capacity for Each Spouse

  • Education
  • Training

Training

  • Skill set (i.e., are skills outdated)
  • Employment history
  • Consideration of disabilities or illness
  • Evidentiary Consideration: Never assume the court knows

the skills needed in your client’s job or the effects that age, illness or physical limitation have on performance of such job.

  • Vocational Experts

p

– Budgeting – Assessing earning capacity or ability – A plan for an unemployed job seeker p p y j

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Lifestyle of the parties impacted by present economy

  • Real property values have significantly declined

ea p ope ty a ues a e s g ca t y dec ed for most real estate and retirement accounts

  • Reductions in force and downsizing of jobs

g j

  • Reduced values of stock/bond portfolios and

value of stock options

  • Diminished travel due to increased prices of

gasoline and travel costs

  • Reduction of discretionary luxuries (e.g., club

memberships, dining out)

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Costs of insurance for mid‐life & elder di divorces

  • Health Care Insurance (Medical, dental, vision)

( , , ) COBRA Limitations:

– Applies only to employers with 20 or more employees Is available for only 36 months after divorce – Is available for only 36 months after divorce

  • Disability – May not be able to qualify or may be

cost‐prohibitive p

  • Life – May not be able to qualify or may be cost‐

prohibitive

  • Long‐term care – Easier for 50 and 60 year olds to

qualify and afford– consider as a possible settlement option settlement option

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Security for payment of spousal support Security for payment of spousal support

  • Insurable interest in payor’s life. In re Marriage of Hall,

225 P.3d 764 (Kan. Ct. App. 2010)(Ex‐wife had insurable interest in ex‐husband’s life, as long as she was entitled to receive spousal and child support, so court could p pp

  • rder husband to cooperate with wife to obtain

insurance on his life at her expense).

  • Insurance provisions to consider in providing security

Insurance provisions to consider in providing security for support: policy ownership, irrevocable beneficiary designation during period of support, payment of premiums prohibition of loans against policy premiums, prohibition of loans against policy, reduction in coverage and/or ability to name additional beneficiaries as the support obligation provided for a term‐of‐years or lump‐sum amount declines term of years or lump sum amount declines.

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AMOUNT & DURATION OF SPOUSAL SUPPORT

  • How much?

How much?

– State statutory scheme – Projected monthly income and expenses j y p – Must be accurate and credible

  • How long?

– State statutory scheme y – Permanent, rehabilitative, bridge‐the‐gap – Medical, physical or emotional needs p y

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Imputing income to either spouse

  • Error not to consider Husband’s bonuses and contributions to 401(k).

Drew v. Drew, 27 So. 3d 802 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2010).

  • Intermediate‐balancing test to determine earning capacity, instead of

actual earnings, where Husband voluntarily moved and left previous job. Pullen v. Pullen, 222 P.3d 909 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2009). , ( pp )

  • Court imputed income where Husband failed to use best efforts to obtain

employment to hinder Wife’s transition to separate life Parnell v Parnell employment to hinder Wife s transition to separate life. Parnell v. Parnell, 239 P.3d 216 (Okla. Civ. App., 2010).

  • Wage and occupation information statistics from the U S Department of
  • Wage and occupation information statistics from the U. S. Department of

Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, provide valuable information as to median hourly, mean hourly and mean average wages. The information is available on a national regional and local basis available on a national, regional and local basis.

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MODIFICATION OF SPOUSAL SUPPORT

Ability to Modify Spousal Support I it difi bl ? D th t t t t t it difi ti b

  • Is it modifiable?

Does the state statute permit non‐modification by written agreement? In re Marriage of Waldren, 217 Ariz. 173, 171 P.3d 1214 (2007) (en banc).

  • Does a written separation/settlement agreement specifically state in

writing that spousal support will be non‐modifiable?

  • Ambiguous non‐modification provisions may subject spousal support to

modification.

  • Unambiguous non‐modifiable provisions are enforceable. Flaherty v.

Flaherty, 990 A.2d 1274 (Conn. App. Ct. 2010); Rose v. Rose, 795 N.W. 2d 611 (Mich. Ct. App. 2010).

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What mid‐life factors may constitute a substantial change of circumstances to modify substantial change of circumstances to modify spousal support?

  • Retirement
  • Early retirement
  • Termination of employment
  • Disability (Permanent or Temporary)
  • Illness
  • Illness
  • Loss of earning ability (e.g., lost skills)

Were any of the foregoing considered at the time of divorce and were they Were any of the foregoing considered at the time of divorce and were they included as factors at trial or when the marital settlement agreement was executed? Was it foreseeable, and if so, is it a “substantial change of circumstance”? Is the change of circumstances going to be continuing or temporary? Is the change material? Is the change material? Is the change of circumstances voluntary or contrived to reduce support?

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Mid‐Life Divorce: Unique Challenges f B b B d Old C l for Baby Boomers and Older Couples

Leslie Ann Shaner LShaner@BarnesFamilyLaw com LShaner@BarnesFamilyLaw.com (804) 414‐1609

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ERISA COVERAGE Applicable to Plans Established by: Applicable to Plans Established by: A l d i

  • Any employer engaged in commerce
  • r industry;
  • Any employee organization

representing employees; or

  • Both.

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ERISA COVERAGE (CON’T) ERISA COVERAGE (CON T)

  • Not Applicable to government plans, church

l W k ’ C i plans, Worker’s Compensation or Unemployment Compensation, plans outside h U S d b fi l the U.S., and excess benefit plans.

  • Administered by the U.S. DOL, IRS, the

Treasury & PBGC – Employee Benefits y p y Security Administration (EBSA)

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BENEFITS ARE NOT AUTOMATIC BENEFITS ARE NOT AUTOMATIC

  • Put learning about the parties’ retirement benefits on

g p the front burner whether or not there may be a waiver

  • f retirement benefits.

ll ( ) i i l i i

  • Allows you to (1) engage in meaningful negotiations;

(2) present to a Court evidence about a retirement plan; and (3) prepare a QDRO plan; and (3) prepare a QDRO.

  • Each type of ERISA retirement plan affords different

types of benefits.

  • If these benefits are not included in agreements

and/or final decrees, they may be lost.

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QDROs Q

  • Create or recognize the existence of an AP’s

Create or recognize the existence of an AP s right to receive all or a portion of a P’s benefits under a plan; p

  • Relates to the payment of child support,

Relates to the payment of child support, alimony, or marital rights to a spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent; and p p

  • Pursuant to State domestic relations law.

Pursuant to State domestic relations law.

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MALPRACTICE CONCERNS MALPRACTICE CONCERNS

  • Failure to draft a QDRO at the time of divorce;

F il d f QDRO d i i i

  • Failure to draft a QDRO and participant quits

job; F il d f QDRO d i i

  • Failure to draft a QDRO and participant

retires; F il d f QDRO d i i di

  • Failure to draft a QDRO and participant dies;

Failure to have a plan administrator approve QDRO Mistake # 1; and QDRO – Mistake # 1; and

  • Failure to audit old QDRO files.

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QDRO’S ARE TICKING TIME BOMBS!!!

QDROs that were never prepared; QDROs that were prepared but never approved by that were prepared, but never approved by the company; QDROs that were prepared and approved but that exclude the requisite and approved, but that exclude the requisite survivorship coverage to secure a share of a pension; QDROs that bear no relationship pension; QDROs that bear no relationship to the parties’ or a court’s actual intent.

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Defined Contribution Plans Defined Contribution Plans

  • Savings plans, 401(k) plans, profit sharing plans,

g p , ( ) p , p g p , stock purchase plans, and money purchase pension plans d i d ib i l (i di id l A “defined contribution plan” (individual account plan) is a pension plan which provides for an individual account for each participant and for individual account for each participant and for benefits based solely on the amount contributed to a participant’s account, and any income, expenses, i d l d f f it f t f gains and losses, and any forfeitures of accounts of

  • ther participants that may be allocated to a

participant’s account. pa t c pa t s accou t.

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DCP Checklist DCP Checklist

  • Refer to participant’s total account balance;
  • Coverature formulas do not apply;
  • Coverature formulas do not apply;
  • Include gains and/or losses;
  • Include a pro rata allocation of benefits;

c ude a p o ata a oca o o be e s;

  • Include provisions for loans;
  • Include contributions made after a valuation date;
  • Include a commencement date and form of

payment;

  • Include payment of administrative fees; and
  • Include payment of administrative fees; and
  • Include provisions for death of either party.

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DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS

  • Hourly rate pension plan, salary-based pension plans, career

y p p y p p average salary plans, floor offset arrangement plans, and cash balance pension plans. A “defined benefit plan” means a pension plan other than an individual account plan that provides a benefit derived from employer contributions that is based partly on the balance of employer contributions that is based partly on the balance of the separate account of a participant. Basically a “defined benefit plan” promises to pay each participant a specific benefit at retirement The basic retirement benefits are benefit at retirement. The basic retirement benefits are usually based on a formula that takes into account factors such as the number of years a participant has worked for an employer and a participant’s salary an employer and a participant s salary.

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SEPARATE VS. SHARED INTEREST SEPARATE VS. SHARED INTEREST

A separate interest QDRO divides a P’s benefits into 2 A separate interest QDRO divides a P s benefits into 2 separate parts – one for the AP and one for the P and provides that the AP receives lifetime benefits that are actuarially adjusted on the AP’s life expectancy actuarially adjusted on the AP s life expectancy.

A shared interest QDRO is based on a P’s life A shared interest QDRO is based on a P s life

  • expectancy. Benefits are received by an AP only “if,

as, and when” benefits are received by a P. A shared i t t QDRO t b d if P i ti d interest QDRO must be used if a P is retired.

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ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES SEPARATE INTEREST QDROS SEPARATE INTEREST QDROS

Advantages for AP:  l i b fi i b f  Can elect to receive benefits at any time on or before P’s earliest retirement age  Can select any form of available benefit under plan Can select any form of available benefit under plan Disadvantages for AP:  AP not eligible for early retirement benefits if AP l b fi l elects to commence benefits early Advantages for P:  Can select any form of available benefit under plan /  Can select any form of available benefit under plan / not limited to select reduced joint and survivor annuity

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DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS ADDITIONAL BENEFITS ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Qualified Pretirement Survivor Annuity (QJSA): All ERISA governed DBPs offer QPSAs. This is a benefit for a surviving spouse in the event that a P dies prior to retirement. Generally, it is a reduced 50% p y, annuity. Qualified Joint & Survivor Annuity (QJSA): Qualified Joint & Survivor Annuity (QJSA): All ERISA governed DBPs offer QJSAs to eligible Ps who do not die before the annuity starting date. A QJSA id t ft P’ d th f b t 50% provides an amount after a P’s death of between 50%- 100% of the amount payable if both were living in an annuity for a surviving spouse.

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SLIDE 47

TIPS ABOUT QPSAs TIPS ABOUT QPSAs QPSAs are the only survivorship benefit QPSAs are the only survivorship benefit available under a separate interest QDRO! Fully subsidized by employers Fully subsidized by employers Can be included in a shared interest QDRO Language in PSA or Final Decree must be specific about the inclusion and amount of the QPSA being awarded Does AP get monthly award & QPSA? g y Q

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DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS ADDITIONAL BENEFITS ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

  • Cost of Living Adjustments / applied at no cost to either the P or the

AP AP

  • Temporary or supplemental benefits provide monthly income either
  • n a temporary basis or for life where participants have taken early
  • n a temporary basis or for life where participants have taken early

retirement, typically at a reduced monthly benefit from what they would receive at normal retirement age.

  • Early retirement subsidies permit employees to retire prior to the

normal retirement age with either a full or actuarially reduced benefit. E l ti t i d ff l t it

  • Early retirement window programs offer employees an opportunity

to retire with increased benefits than they would receive under a plan’s standard early retirement plan. The division of these benefits applies where a separate interest in defined benefit plans is selected.

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SLIDE 49

TIPS FOR DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS TIPS FOR DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS

  • Always refer to accrued benefits, except for cash

y , p balance pension plans;

  • Always consider using the coverature approach for

di i i division;

  • Always consider the advantages and disadvantages of

using separate versus shared interest QDROs; using separate versus shared interest QDROs;

  • Always consider awarding cost of living adjustments;
  • Always consider awarding early retirement benefits;
  • Always consider awarding early retirement benefits;
  • Always consider awarding QPSA benefits; and
  • Always consider awarding QJSA benefits

Always consider awarding QJSA benefits.

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SLIDE 50

WAIVERS OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS

Egelhoff v. Egelhoff, 532 U.S. 141, 121 S.Ct. 1322, 149 g ff g ff, , , L.Ed.2d 264 (2001)  Preempted Washington revocation upon divorce statute  Preempted Washington revocation upon divorce statute  ERISA supercedes state law dealing with qualified retirement plans  B i i f l d l  Beginning of plan documents rule The Development of Federal Common Law The Development of Federal Common Law

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SLIDE 51

WAIVERS (CON’T) WAIVERS (CON T)

Kennedy v. DuPont Savings and Investment Plan, 555 U.S. Kennedy v. DuPont Savings and Investment Plan, 555 U.S. ___, 129 S.Ct. 865, 172 L.Ed.2d 662 (2009)

It is the “plan documents rule,” as opposed to federal common law developed throughout the federal circuits, that governs who takes survivorship benefits if circuits, that governs who takes survivorship benefits if the required designations are not changed following

  • divorce. Whatever provisions are made for

survivorship benefits that are contained in plan survivorship benefits that are contained in plan documents will be strictly adhered to when clients fail to correctly follow the required procedures.

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OTHER TYPES OF RETIREMENT PLANS EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Excess Benefit Plans: cess e e t a s:  Excess benefit plans  Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans  Deferred Bonuses  Vested Trusts  Stock Option Plans  Phantom Stock Plans  Stock Appreciation Rights  Stock Appreciation Rights  Golden Parachutes  Silver, Tin and Pension Parachutes Silver, Tin and Pension Parachutes

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OTHER TYPES OF RETIREMENT PLANS IRA IRAs

  • Traditional IRA
  • Roth IRA
  • Individual Retirement Annuity

E l & E l A i ti T t A t

  • Employer & Employee Association Trust Account
  • SEP-IRA
  • SIMPLE – IRA

SIMPLE IRA

  • SPOUSAL IRA
  • ROLLOVER IRA
  • INHERITED IRA
  • EDUCATIONAL IRA

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MILITARY RETIREMENT MILITARY RETIREMENT

20 years of active or qualifying reserve service y q y g Basic benefit VA disability ratings Cost of living adjustments Survivor Benefit Plan Eligibility for TRICARE Eligibility for commissary use L i PSA FD b ifi Language in PSA or FD must be specific Consider outsourcing preparation of language and

  • rders
  • rders

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FEDERAL RETIREMENT BENEFITS FEDERAL RETIREMENT BENEFITS

 Civil Service Retirement System  Civil Service Retirement System  Federal Employees Retirement System  Thrift Savings Plan  Thrift Savings Plan

  • Cost of Living Adjustments
  • Refund of Member Contributions
  • Refund of Member Contributions
  • Survivorship Coverage

 Language in PSA or FD must be specific  Language in PSA or FD must be specific  Consider outsourcing preparation of language and orders and orders

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STATE RETIREMENT PLANS STATE RETIREMENT PLANS  Use extreme caution in this economy  Use extreme caution in this economy  Use discovery methods  d l i l f il bl b fi  Read plan materials for available benefits  Cost of Living Adjustments  Refund of Member Contributions  Survivorship Coverage  Survivorship Coverage

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SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS 42 U S C § 416(d)(1) 2011 10 YR RULE 42 U.S.C. § 416(d)(1) 2011 – 10 YR. RULE

Basics of Social Security Entitlement: Basics of Social Security Entitlement:

  • The primary worker is entitled to Social Security benefits;
  • Divorced wife has filed an application for Social Security

Divorced wife has filed an application for Social Security benefits;

  • Divorced wife is 62 or over;
  • Divorced wife has not remarried; and
  • Divorced wife is not entitled to Social Security benefits, or is

entitled to Social Security benefits based on a primary entitled to Social Security benefits based on a primary insurance amount which is less than one-half of her husband’s primary insurance amount.

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