The best way to protect your retirement is to hire an attorney to draft your final decree with language that officially awards 00% of your retirement benefits to you. Many people are using the pro se, 'do it yourself' forms, to file for divorce.  I don't knock these forms because they have helped a lot of people file for more economical divorces.  The document that get's the ball rolling is an original petition for divorce.  You can do this yourself.  Your wife can fill out a 'do it yourself' answer, which is also economical.  Drafting a decree with no kid issues can range between $200-750.00, just depending on who you hire.  Regardless, it really is worth the funds to make sure that wording is exactly right.  You can then take the decree to the court for final entry without having to worry about fixing it a few years down the road.