Legal Question in Family Law in New Mexico

The order the judge was referring to is called a "Qualified Domestic Relation Order." The abbreviation is QDRO and some people pronounce it Quad-roe and some pronounce it Cued-roe. Both pronunciations refer to the same thing. The easiest way to explain it is to imagine the ex-husband worked for the railroad. The railroad had a retirement program. The ex-wife is entitled to 1/2 of the retirement husband earned while the parties were married. So, lets say, for example, husband had worked for the railroad for 5 years; then met wife and married her on year 6 and they were married for 10 years then got divorced. Wife is entitled to 1/2 of the retirement for the 10 years of marriage - she is NOT entitled to 1/2 of the whole 15 years. (Please understand this is a generic explanation). Most often FAMILY Lawyers or Domestic Relations Lawyers or Divorce Lawyers make QDROs. So, you want your daughter to find that type of a lawyer.

There are other nuances associated with making a QDRO but once she has obtained the attorney that attorney will be able to explain such things to her.

Good Luck

Law Guru