If you divorce, your IMRF benefits can be considered marital assets, whether you are:
- An active IMRF member.
- Receiving an IMRF retirement pension.
- No longer participating in IMRF but left your contributions on file.
If you are considering a divorce, IMRF recommends that you consult with your personal attorney. While IMRF can answer factual questions about your benefits, we cannot give you legal advice.
Illinois law requires a QILDRO to divide IMRF benefits
Will your spouse get a portion of your IMRF benefits when you divorce? If so, you will need a Qualified Illinois Domestic Relations Order (QILDRO).
A QILDRO (pronounced kwil-drō) document is a court order issued by an Illinois court. It directs IMRF to pay your alternate payee the portion of your IMRF benefits that you have agreed upon during your divorce negotiations.
By law, IMRF must have a valid QILDRO on file or we cannot pay your alternate payee. IMRF cannot accept anything else in place of a QILDRO.
IMRF benefits that CAN be included in a QILDRO | IMRF benefits that CANNOT be included in a QILDRO |
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Your QILDRO may apply to all or some of these benefits, depending on what is decided in the divorce. For detailed information about your IMRF benefits, review the information for your IMRF Plan and Tier at www.imrf.org. |
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Note: Because IMRF does not provide health insurance benefits, they cannot be included in a QILDRO.