How Pension Benefits Can Be Divided The "Immediate Offset" Approach Under this method, the present value of the pension benefits are calculated and a determination is made as to that portion of the present value that was earned during the marriage. The court awards the pension to the employee spouse, and the non-employee spouse receives other marital property of offsetting value. Advantages: (1) It results in a final settlement of the distribution of the retirement benefits. (2) Continuing court enforcement and supervision is not required. (3) The parties to the divorce are free from future entanglements. (4) The non-employee spouse does not have to establish and maintain contact with the pension plan administrator. (5) The non-employee spouse does not have to worry about and/or guard against the possibility of the employee spouse changing pension plan beneficiaries. (6) The non-employee spouse does share, to some extent, the risk of the employee spouse not receiving benefits, because the present value of the pension benefit does reflect actuarial discounts for contingencies that might prevent realization. Disadvantages: (1) The employee spouse bears the brunt of the risk of not receiving the pension benefit. (2) Offsetting pension benefits with liquid assets affords the non-employee spouse an opportunity for greater immediate economic gain. The "Deferred Distribution" or Reserve Jurisdiction Approach Under this method, the court retains jurisdiction and allocates the benefits between the parties when they actually paid. Advantages: (1) Each spouse shares equitably in the risk of forfeiture. (2) The court can divide and distribute the pension benefits in terms of monies actually paid. Disadvantages: (1) By prolonging the date of final distribution of assets, you can also prolong the hostilities between the spouses. (2) The employee spouse could choose certain benefit options that would have an adverse effect on the non-employee spouse's portion. (3) The non-employee spouse could forget about his/her interest in the employee's pension rights. Return to the Pensions Page

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