In the employee benefits context, an individual recognized by a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) as having a right to receive either all or a portion of a participant's benefits payable under a retirement plan. An alternate payee may be a:

A QDRO cannot grant an alternate payee increased benefits or benefits in a form not otherwise specified under the plan.

For more information on QDROs, see Practice Note, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders: Overview.