I was under the impression that a QDRO cannot be amended - even upon the mutual agreement of the participant and alternate payee - without judicial approval. Is this correct?

Thank you in advance.

I think you are correct. It takes a judge's signature.

Since a domestic relations order is an order or other edict of a court or other authoized body, even if the order is an approval of a settlement agreement, I do not see how a post-order agreement that is not itself approved by the court or other body can be a domestic relations order. I would not approve an order in the first place if it had a provision that says the order could be modified simply by agreement of the particpant and alternate payee.

Domestic relations orders are not limited to court orders.