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Avoiding Traps in QDROs
Before 1985, there was no way to attach the assets in a qualified pension plan for a spouse in a divorce proceeding. While a state court may have awarded a portion of the benefit, a plan administrator could not comply based on the federal laws governing pension plans (there were some exceptions for benefits already in pay status). The Retirement Equity Act of 1984 altered that by adding to the Internal Revenue Code ' 414(p), which allows qualified pension plans to divide plan assets if ordered through a properly drafted Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). The rules surrounding QDROs are complex; guidelines now abound, including guidance from both the IRS and the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation. What follows are some tips to assist drafters in avoiding common traps in these subtle
documents.
Can We Circumvent the Process?
Most family law attorneys understand the relevance of a QDRO when attaching pension assets through a divorce. However, occasionally, if the fact
pattern cooperates, there may be a way to circumvent the entire QDRO process (IRC ' 408(d)(6) in lieu of a QDRO). Many divorces involve several assets, ie, pension plans, a residence, taxable assets and IRAs. As the goal of a divorce is to apportion the existing assets in some sort of equitable manner, offsets are used. The pension is awarded to one, while the residence is awarded to the other; the taxable assets are given to the plaintiff, while the stock options are awarded to the defendant ' or some combination thereof ' is decided on. Because the IRAs are also sometimes split, along with the pension, it's worth addressing the simplest way to effectuate these final divisions.
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws
This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.
Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin
With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.
The Article 8 Opt In
The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.
Removing Restrictive Covenants In New York
In Rockwell v. Despart, the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, recently revisited a recurring question: When may a landowner seek judicial removal of a covenant restricting use of her land?