Strasen Law, LLP is a law practice which divides retirement benefits pursuant to divorce. Cases are handled from the initial evaluation of the retirement portfolio and settlement agreement, through confirmation of the successful transfer of assets.
Hiring a QDRO attorney for retirement Order preparation is the best way to manage and minimize the financial risk inherent to dividing pre-tax assets. Under federal law, a QDRO can't be processed retroactively to reverse an assessed tax penalty. This makes it extremely important for QDROs to be processed correctly, and to have the support of an attorney to stand behind their work.
Our attorneys draft custom QDROs. While they are written within the parameters set by each Plan's provisions, they are based on her extensive experience and understanding of the law in this area. Unlike sample QDROs provide by Plans, our QDROs do not use unnecessary default language. Model QDROs are often written in the Plan's interest instead of the client's.
As attorneys, we can work directly with non-represented clients. We are able to take care of key steps for clients that other QDRO processors can't do. Examples are filing the QDROs with the court and serving them on the Plan Administrators (see our About QDROs section for more information).
775 Baywood Dr - Ste 213 , Petaluma, CA 94954
Ph: (707) 774-6555
Fax: (707) 232-6139
General email: paralegals@strasenqdro.com
Preparation and processing of QDROs, DROs, COAPs, & other nonqualified Plan Orders
Reviews of Orders prepared by others
Consultation regarding settlement terms & language
Equalization calculations for defined contribution plans
Tracing of separate property, limited to less than 5 yrs
Expert witness testimony & deposition
Administrative QDRO review & execution services for employers
Elizabeth Strasen has been practicing family law since 1987. Over the years, she has developed working relationships with a large network of family law practitioners, courts in many counties, and retirement plan administrators.
Elizabeth is the third party plan administrator for Stanford University's retirement plans. She is an original member of the QDRONEs, a national group of QDRO attorneys & practitioners. She gives MCLE presentations throughout the Bay Area, and leads a mentoring group for attorneys new to the practice of retirement division. If you are interested in third party plan administration or joining a list serve for Ms. Strasen's mentor group, please contact us.
Elizabeth received her bachelors of science degree in chemistry from the University of California, Davis and her juris doctorate degree from Santa Clara University School of Law.
Jessica Strasen’s practice includes drafting QDROs and IRA Orders, ERISA and administrative disputes, tracing calculations, and research and writing for litigation support.
Jessica graduated summa cum laude from the University of San Francisco School of Law. She is a member of the QDRONEs and a California SuperLawyer.