I recently got a divorce and being awarded half of my ex retirement plans at TIAA-CREF. I am trying to withdraw my part and closing the account but TIAA-CREF won't let me. I am not working at the same company where my ex worked and even my ex is not employed anymore at the institution where he has TIAA-CREF in. I am so hopeless since I need to pay my debt. Withdrawing the funds is the only resource I could get. If anyone has any suggestion it would be highly appreciated. Thanks.

I'm guessing, but perhaps the issue here is that you rolled your portion of your ex's 401(k) into your own 401(k) at TIAA-CREF, and so now have to adhere to the rules for withdrawals from the 401(k) plan, which may restrict you to making any withdrawals until your ex starts withdrawing money from his account upon his retirement. Please confirm if this is what happened. What you should have done is roll your portion of your ex's 401(k) into a roillover IRA - that way you are subject to IRA distribution rules. Your Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is where the determination of what to do with your portion of the 401(k) assets is specified - what did it say?