401k about paying a spouse

[chriswray1979]

If i was court ordered to  pay half my 401k to my ex-spouse in a divorce settlement am I liable for the taxes or are they? also is there a deduction i qualify for?

[MichaelL1]

"A qualified domestic relations order – QDRO – is the document that transfers a portion of your 401(k) to your ex in accordance with the terms of your divorce decree. As long as you use one, there are no tax repercussions and the Internal Revenue Service doesn't treat the transaction as a withdrawal. QDROs are complex documents, but the task of creating one should not fall to you – you'll probably have to hire an attorney or accountant to draft one. "

Source: http://finance.zacks.com/tax-consequences-401k-divorce-settlement-4122.html

There is no deduction for giving half to your x-spouse.