SERVICE AGREEMENT

THE QDRO COMPANY, LLC ("QDROCO")

BEFORE MAKING A PAYMENT AND RETAINING QDRO's SERVICES, YOU MUST AGREE TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS WITHIN THIS SERVICE AGREEMENT.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

The QDRO Company (“QDROCO”) will, with the receipt of all Required Documents, prepare the appropriate court order for the division of the applicable retirement plan(s) based on the divorce decree or other property settlement/mediation agreements and/or order of the Court.

If the divorce decree or separation agreement is not clear, QDROCO will ask all parties and attorneys for written clarification.

QDROCO will provide the appropriate Court Orders to all parties and attorneys and to the Plan for pre-approval (if allowed by the Plan and requested by you).

If the Order is rejected by the Plan, QDROCO will make appropriate corrections free of charge.

Any changes to an Order requested by the parties or attorneys after receipt of qualification by the Plan Administrator will be charged at a rate of $225/hour.

Unless specifically retained by mutual agreement of the Party and QDROCO, it is not the responsibility of QDROCO to:

• Obtain signatures of the parties or attorneys;

• Submit Order(s) to the Court for signature by the Judge

• Send the court-signed Order to the Plan Administrator for execution; and/or

• Complete any other paperwork the Plan requires for distribution of funds or implementation of benefits.

QDROCO does not:

• Provide legal, financial or tax advice.

• Assist parties in completing paperwork sent to either party from the Plan.

DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS OR PAYMENTS

QDROCO is not responsible for the distribution of payments from the Plan.

STATUS OF ORDERS

To provide accurate and timely proposed orders and to keep our fees low, our strict policy is that we will not provide status updates or respond to requests for such unless or until an update is available except through the Case Status app.

Calls, e-mails or other requests for updates or information from parties, parties’ financial advisors, relatives, friends, etc., will not be returned.

Once QDROCO has drafted the appropriate court order and forwarded same to my attorney, it is my responsibility to:

• Contact my attorney regarding the status and to discuss the contents of the court order with my attorney.

• Make sure the Plan Administrator receives a copy of the court-entered court order.

• Contact the Plan Administrator regarding the status of any court-entered Order that has been forwarded to the Plan Administrator.

Each Administrator processes court orders differently, and any internal delays on the Administrator’s end are outside the control of QDROCO. An Administrator can take up to 18 months to review and process a court order.

FEES

I understand that fees are to be paid in full prior to the commencement of any work product.

The fees cover the drafting of the applicable court order only. QDROCO Consultants will consult with parties about their court order at their hourly billable rate of $225/hour. Consultations will be pre- scheduled and pre-paid in 15-minute increments.

A Plan Administrator’s review fees are not part of this Agreement. 

TEXT MESSAGES

For updates on your case, we utilize a mobile application called Case Status.  From time to time we may also use Clio Manage to communicate by text with parties. Updates and communication regarding your case are sent through Case Status and are received by you via text. By signing this Agreement, you are agreeing to receive text messages from us.

If, at any time, you no longer wish to receive status updates or communications by text, you may respond with STOP to be opted out or you can email us at intake@qdroco.com with the mobile number being used and we will remove you from the Case Status update list.

ARBITRATION

Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this contract, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by binding arbitration, in the State of Michigan, in accordance with the then current Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction hereof. It is agreed that, in the event of arbitration, the parties will keep the proceedings and results confidential, except as required by law or reasonable business necessity.

TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT

This Agreement can be terminated at any time, with or without cause, by written notification by any party to this Agreement. Upon termination, QDROCO will refund any unused fees paid.

QDROCO reserves the right to terminate this Agreement for non-payment of fees, failure to provide requested information, conflicts of interest, or for conduct by any party or attorney, in QDROCO’s sole discretion, renders it unreasonably difficult for QDROCO to render the services for which is has been engaged.