Opinion ID: 901143
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Qualified Domestic Relations Order

Text: [¶ 13.] Timothy also argues that the language of the QDRO mandated that Cheryl should bear the risk of loss from the decline of the value of the stock allocated to marital debt. He further argues that the trial court was without power to interpret the QDRO differently. Timothy specifically contends that as soon as the stock was segregated by the employer, each separate account was subject to its own earnings and losses.  We find no support for these arguments in the QDRO. [¶ 14.] First, while the express language of the QDRO does contain language allocating interest and earnings  to each parties' separate accounts, the QDRO does not contain language allocating any losses or decreases in the value of stock. Although a letter from the employer indicated that employer intended to allocate both gains and losses, that letter is not a part of the QDRO or the agreement of the parties. Therefore, it was not binding on the circuit court. We see nothing in the language of the QDRO that required Cheryl to bear the risk of loss of value in the assets Timothy allocated to satisfy his marital debt. [¶ 15.] Furthermore, even if the original language of the QDRO suggested such a result, courts do have the power and authority to interpret and construe the terms of a QDRO or pension in accordance with the parties' stipulations. [2] Jackson v. Jackson, 2002 OK 25, ¶ 18, 45 P.3d 418, 427-28 (holding that the trial court had the authority to interpret the divorce decree and revise a QDRO even after two previous QDROs were entered). Moreover, in Washington v. Washington, 2000 WI 47, ¶ 4, 234 Wis.2d 689, 692, 611 N.W.2d 261, 263, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that a circuit court may construe the final division of property in a divorce judgment and allocate pension appreciation and interest [that accrues between the divorce and the distribution] when the divorce judgment is silent about the allocation of appreciation. Timothy's case is no different except for the fact that it involves an allocation of pre-distribution losses instead of gains. We conclude that the trial court was well within its power, authority and discretion in interpreting the provisions of the Stipulation and the QDRO such that both parties bore their respective risk of market losses. [¶ 16.] Affirmed. [¶ 17.] GILBERTSON, Chief Justice, and SABERS, KONENKAMP and MEIERHENRY, Justices, concur.