The Ultimate QDRO Resource

Everything You Need to Navigate a QDRO — In One Place

For family law attorneys drafting complex orders. For pro se litigants protecting their retirement. Free tools, expert guidance, and AI-powered assistance.

Explore the Tools Ask the AI Assistant
4 Free Tools
AI Powered
∞ Plan Types
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Every QDRO tool gives you the form.
QDRO Institute gives you the retirement division.
Who We Serve
Built for Attorneys. Accessible to Everyone.
Whether you're a seasoned family law attorney or navigating divorce on your own, QDRO Institute gives you the tools and knowledge you need.
For Attorneys & Specialists
Professional-Grade QDRO Tools
Precise, technical resources built for practitioners who draft and review QDROs daily.
  • ✓ Plan administrator database with submission requirements and quirks
  • ✓ AI-powered rejection letter diagnosis and fix guidance
  • ✓ Rejection type framework with detailed checklists
  • ✓ Coverage of all plan types: 401(k), pension, 403(b), federal, military
  • ✓ "What NOT to change" guidance to avoid secondary rejections
For Pro Se Litigants
Plain-English Guidance
Divorce is hard enough. We explain QDROs in plain language so you can protect what's yours.
  • ✓ Clear explanation of what a QDRO is and why it matters
  • ✓ Step-by-step walkthrough of the QDRO process
  • ✓ AI assistant that answers your specific questions
  • ✓ Deadline warnings — missing these can cost you benefits
  • ✓ Guidance on when to hire a specialist vs. DIY
Tools
Four Free Tools + One Premium Analyzer.
Four tools free forever. One premium AI analyzer — $79 per analysis, or included with your QDRO Institute subscription. Built by a QDRO specialist for real-world practice.
AI Powered 🤖
QDRO AI Assistant
Ask any QDRO question — get expert answers instantly.
  • All plan types: 401(k), pension, 403(b), TSP, military
  • Tailored for attorneys and pro se litigants
  • ERISA rules, tax treatment, survivor benefits
  • Deadline warnings and process guidance
Open Assistant →
Free 🗄️
Plan Administrator Database
Searchable repository of plan requirements, contacts, and quirks.
  • Submission addresses and review timelines
  • Model QDRO availability by plan
  • Known plan-specific quirks and requirements
  • Add and update entries as you discover them
Search Plans →
Free 🗺️
QDRO Rejection Diagnostic Guide
Interactive diagnostic guide to identify your rejection type and exact fix.
  • Five-category diagnostic framework
  • Step-by-step triage decision map
  • Interactive checklists for each rejection type
  • What NOT to change after a rejection
Start Triage →
Free 📊
TRS Pension Present Value Estimator
Calculate the present value range of a TRS defined benefit pension for divorce negotiation.
  • TRS 2.3% formula with Rule of 80 projection
  • Three discount rates: Conservative, Moderate, Aggressive
  • IRS actuarial life expectancy tables
  • Negotiation range explanation for offset discussions
Calculate Value →
$79 / analysis 🔍
AI Rejection Analyzer
Paste your rejection letter. Get an instant diagnosis and precise fix. Included with your QDRO Institute subscription.
  • Identifies the operative sentence automatically
  • Diagnoses rejection type with confidence score
  • Tells you exactly what to fix — and what not to touch
  • $79 per analysis, or free with subscription
Analyze Letter →
Live Products
Three Products. One Complete Practice.
From intake to filing — QDRO Navigator guides the analysis, TRS Pathway Tool structures the workflow, and QDRO Docs assembles the order.
AI Powered 🧭
QDRO Navigator
AI-powered retirement division analysis. Ask any question about dividing any retirement plan in any state.
  • Guided analysis for every plan type
  • Built on the QDRO Institute knowledge base
  • Rejection intelligence from 69 real letters
Open Navigator →
Workflow 🛤️
TRS Pathway Tool
Structured 9-step workflow for dividing Teacher Retirement System benefits. Active and retiree paths.
  • Risk-rated decision nodes at every step
  • Intake forms with pre-submission checklists
  • Special Instructions builder with pass-through to QDRO Docs
Open TRS Pathway →
Document Assembly 📄
QDRO Docs
202 plan-specific templates. Fill in the fields, merge, and download a complete order in Word or PDF.
  • TRS, ERISA, federal, state, and employer plans
  • Pre-filled from TRS Pathway Tool intake data
  • Word and PDF download ready for filing
Open QDRO Docs →
About QDRO Institute
Built by a QDRO Specialist. Built for Everyone.

QDRO Institute was founded by Stephen Hernsberger with a single mission: to make expert QDRO knowledge accessible to every attorney, paralegal, and individual navigating the division of retirement benefits in divorce.

The tools and frameworks on this site are drawn from real-world QDRO practice — not theory. Every checklist, diagnostic category, and piece of guidance has been refined through direct experience with plan administrators, rejection letters, and court orders.

Whether you're an experienced family law attorney or someone facing divorce without legal representation, QDRO Institute gives you the same level of knowledge to work from.

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Five-Category Rejection Framework

The diagnostic system used by this site is original methodology developed by Stephen Hernsberger and published in the QDRO Institute Educational Series, 2026.

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All Plan Types Covered

ERISA plans, federal government plans, military retirement under USFSPA, state government plans, and more.

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AI Tools Built on Expert Knowledge

The AI assistant and rejection analyzer are trained on QDRO-specific knowledge — not generic legal information.

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Free Core Tools

The AI Assistant, Plan Administrator Database, and QDRO Rejection Diagnostic Guide are free with no account required. The AI Rejection Analyzer is $79 per analysis or included with a subscription.

Get Started
Where do you want to start?
Four free tools ready to use right now. The AI Rejection Analyzer is $79 per analysis or included with a subscription.
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Ask the AI Assistant

Get answers to any QDRO question instantly.

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Analyze a Rejection

Paste your letter and get a diagnosis in seconds.

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Use the Diagnostic Guide

Walk through the five-category diagnostic framework.

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Search Plan Database

Find plan administrator requirements and contacts.

QDRO Institute provides educational information and tools for general informational purposes only. Nothing on this site constitutes legal advice. Always consult a qualified attorney or QDRO specialist for your specific situation. The AI-powered tools apply general QDRO knowledge and frameworks and may not reflect the specific rules of your retirement plan.