Released on: January 23, 2008, 12:27 pm

Press Release Author: Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation, Inc.

Industry: Non Profit

Press Release Summary: It's all about asking the right questions: In this
information-packed workshop, pension expert Diane Wittenberg will explain retirement
plans and what mediators must know to draft agreements that protect everyone's
interests.

Press Release Body: Chelmsford, Mass.-January 23, 2008-Join the Massachusetts
Council on Family Mediation on Wednesday, February 13 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.


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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.


Web Site: http://mcfm.org

Contact Details: Lynda Robbins, President
Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation, Inc.
masscouncil@mcfm.org