MCFM Announces Workshop on Pensions and Separation Agreements: Crafting Settlements That Work

Chelmsford, Mass.—Join the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation on Wednesday, February 13, 2008, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wellesley Free Library for a special workshop, “Wife Shall Receive One-Half of Husband’s Pension: How To Avoid Unintended Results from Vague Language in Separation Agreements.” Pension expert Diane Wittenberg of QDRO Outsource will share her strategies for crafting agreements that work for everyone involved.

Since retirement assets are generally the largest unencumbered asset in the marital estate, the assignment of retirement assets requires more than a vague reference in the separation agreement to protect the ownership interests of the parties.

This workshop will provide both an overview and comparison of different types of retirement plans, with an emphasis on public plans. Topics will include how various types of retirement plans work and what questions need to be asked and answered in order to draft the separation agreement and domestic relations order that not only reflect the intent of the parties, but can be approved and administered by the retirement plan.

“A domestic relations order is the mechanism used to enforce the rights of the non-employee spouse that are created in the separation agreement,” notes Wittenberg. “The purpose of this workshop is to discuss what information should be included in the separation agreement to avoid problems when drafting the domestic relations order.”

Diane M. Wittenberg is the sole proprietor of QDRO Outsource, providing services to family law professionals and their clients by drafting and reviewing domestic relations orders, in addition to consulting on various employee benefit issues. She has been a tax/pension attorney and employee benefits consultant to individuals, plan sponsors and service providers for 20 years.

This quarterly professional development workshop is open to MCFM members, their guests, and prospective members. MCFM President Lynda Robbins encourages all mediators and allied professionals to attend.

"Every employee benefit plan is different,” says Robbins. “Clients usually want to be fair but need help sorting through the technicalities. Mediators and their clients benefit from the assistance of someone as knowledgeable as Diane. Getting expert input in advance helps assure the final agreement works for the clients."

For more information, contact MCFM at masscouncil@mcfm.org or 781-449-4430.

Lynda Robbins, President
Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation, Inc.
978-256-8178
masscouncil@mcfm.org

About the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation, Inc.:

MCFM is a nonprofit organization established more than 25 years ago by family mediators interested in sharing knowledge and setting guidelines for family mediation. MCFM is the oldest professional organization in Massachusetts dedicated to family mediation.

MCFM serves the public and its members by

-- Providing information about divorce and family mediation
-- Maintaining a mediator referral directory
-- Publishing the “Family Mediation Quarterly”
-- Providing continuing education to divorce mediators and other professionals
-- Setting standards to guide the professional practice of mediation
-- Offering a certification program for qualified members

MCFM’s Web address is http://www.mcfm.org. The council can be reached by phone at 781-449-4430 or by e-mail at masscouncil@mcfm.org.

This release was published on openPR.