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Release Date: March 6, 2007
Release Number: 07-322-NAT
Contact Name: Gloria Della/Peter Hong
Phone Number: 202.693.8664/202.693.4676

U.S. Department of Labor Announces New Rules on Pension Distributions Under Qualified Domestic Relations Orders

Washington - The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an interim final rule regarding the qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

The rule is being issued under the Pension Protection Act of 2006, which requires the Labor Department to issue by August 2007 regulations clarifying that a domestic relations order otherwise meeting ERISA’s QDRO requirements would not fail to be treated as a QDRO solely because of when it is issued or because it is issued after, or revises, another domestic relations order. The rule includes examples to address various circumstances involving the timing of a domestic relations order.

“The publication of this rule is another step forward in implementation of the Pension Protection Act,” said Bradford P. Campbell, acting assistant secretary of labor for employee benefits security. “I am pleased with the Department of Labor’s progress in issuing the regulations and guidance required by this landmark legislation.”

The regulation is to be published in the Federal Register’s March 7, 2007, edition. While the rule will become effective 30 days after publication, the public is invited to submit written comments electronically to e-ORI@dol.gov or through the federal e-rulemaking portal at www.regulations.gov.

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