Some of the details are a bit unclear; it is not at all clear what you mean by reference to "third party payments." While it is possible to freeze the spousal share, the default provision of our usual retirement orders (through our QDROMasters order drafting division; see https://qdromasters.com/) is to have the spousal share increase or decrease in accordance with dividends, gains and losses until date of segregation of accounts.
As to your question, there is no specific time unless the court set one, although 2 1/2 years seems outrageous on any standard. If the attorneys involved do not understand pension division and QDRO drafting, your best bet is to get a second opinion from experts in pension division orders, at QDROMasters or another highly qualified source if you have one.
Answered on Dec 20th, 2018 at 3:59 PM