PUBLIC LAW 98-397—AUG. 23, 1984
98 STAT. 1435
and the plan's procedures for determining the qualified status of domestic relations orders, and "(II) within a reasonable period after receipt of such order, the plan administrator shall determine whether such order is a qualified domestic relations order and notify the participant and each alternate payee of such determination. "(ii) Each plan shall establish reasonable procedures to determine the qualified status of domestic relations orders and to administer distributions under such qualified orders. Such procedures— "(I) shall be in writing, "(II) shall provide for the notification of each person specified '^ in a domestic relations order as entitled to payment of benefits under the plan (at the address included in the domestic relations order) of such procedures promptly upon receipt by the plan of the domestic relations order, and "(III) shall permit an alternate payee to designate a representative for receipt of copies of notices that are sent to the alternate payee with respect to a domestic relations order. "(H)(i) During any period in which the issue of whether a domestic relations order is a qualified domestic relations order is being determined (by the plan administrator, by a court of competent jurisdiction, or otherwise), the plan administrator shall segregate in a separate account in the plan or in an escrow account the amounts which would have been payable to the alternate payee during such period if the order had been determined to be a qualified domestic relations order. "(ii) If within 18 months the order (or modification thereof) is determined to be a qualified domestic relations order, the plan administrator shall pay the segregated amounts (plus any interest thereon) to the person or persons entitled thereto, "(iii) If within 18 months— "(I) it is determined that the order is not a qualified domestic relations order, or "(II) the issue as to whether such order is a qualified domestic relations order is not resolved, then the plan administrator shall pay the segregated amounts (plus any interest thereon) to the person or persons who would have been entitled to such amounts if there had been no order. "(iv) Any determination that an order is a qualified domestic relations order which is made after the close of the 18-month period shall be applied prospectively only. "(I) If a plan fiduciary acts in accordance with part 4 of this 29 USC 1101. subtitle in— "(i) treating a domestic relations order as being (or not being) a qualified domestic relations order, or (ii) taking action under subparagraph (H), then the plan's obligation to the participant and each alternate payee shall be discharged to the extent of any payment made e pursuant to such act. "(J) A person who is an alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order shall be considered for purposes of any provision of this Act a beneficiary under the plan. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall permit a requirement under section 4001 of the 29 USC 1301. payment of more than 1 premium with respect to a participant for any period. '(K) The term 'alternate payee' means any spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent of a participant who is recognized by a
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