Why does TOVA keep the entire retirement piece under one roof?

Because handoffs between firms are the most common cause of rejected orders and revised settlements. When the records work is done by one firm, the tracing by another, and the order by a third, the assumptions in each step often do not line up by the time the order reaches the plan. Keeping it under one firm eliminates that failure mode.

What does the receiving party get from this approach?

A documented analysis for the work retained and an order drafted to the agreed division and plan requirements. Plan pre-approval, where offered, happens before delivery for court filing. Final qualification follows court entry and submission by the parties or counsel.

What happens when records are missing?

TOVA identifies the gap, documents it, and shows what the available records support. Missing records are not the end of the analysis; they are a separate question that gets answered on the record.

How TOVA Works: From Records to Court Order

The Path

Choose the Help Your Case Needs

Records discovery and tracing are separate services. You do not need either one to request a QDRO. If you are unsure, start with a case inquiry.

1

Records

We identify missing records, research who may hold them, and prepare specific requests. Counsel or the participant sends them. Records may not be available.

2

Tracing and Valuation

We trace defined contribution accounts and IRAs to calculate marital and non-marital amounts. You can request tracing without records discovery first.

3

Drafting

We draft to the plan requirements and the agreed division. We request pre-approval when the plan offers it and handle requested revisions.

4

Your order and next steps

We deliver the order with the plan pre-approval letter or email, or the finished order if pre-approval is unavailable. You or counsel handle court filing and final submission to the plan.

One firmNo handoffs between researcher, tracer, drafter, and reviewer.

Documented gapsMissing records are identified and documented, not assumed.

Holds up in courtNumbers built to survive cross-examination.

Plan reviewWe request pre-approval where the plan offers it, and we answer the plan's comments.

Know what we will deliver, and what comes next.

What you do

Tell us the work you need and provide the records requested for that service. For an order, you or your attorney handle court filing, obtain the certified copy, and send it to the plan for final qualification after our handoff.

What we do

TOVA delivers the order with the plan's pre-approval letter or email and handles revisions during preparation and pre-approval. If the plan does not offer pre-approval, we deliver the finished order. The parties or their attorneys then handle court filing, obtain the court-certified copy, and submit it directly to the plan for final qualification.

Records first

Every TOVA file starts with the records the case actually needs, not assumptions about the records that might exist. When records are missing, we identify the gap and document it. When records contradict each other, we reconcile. The receiving party should not pay for gaps in the participant's record keeping.

Why it matters to your client and to you

The receiving party gets the share they are actually entitled to, calculated on documentation that holds up in court.

TOVA delivers the order with the plan's pre-approval letter or email and handles revisions during preparation and pre-approval. If the plan does not offer pre-approval, we deliver the finished order. The parties or their attorneys then handle court filing, obtain the court-certified copy, and submit it directly to the plan for final qualification.

TOVA QDRO and Retirement Valuators is not a law firm and does not provide legal, tax, or investment advice. Nothing on this page is legal advice. All legal strategy and filing decisions remain with the attorney of record.

Start a Case

Send what you have. We will route it.

We work with attorneys nationwide. Sharon Edelman is the first point of contact on every new case.

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Or email sedelman@tovaretirement.com · Call (516) 200-1074