Pension On Divorce

The value of pensions and the income they produce can fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you invested

You should always get advice from a Financial Adviser or a solicitor before you act.

Pension sharing – You get a percentage share of any one (or more) of your ex-partner’s pensions. This is either transferred into a pension in your name or you can join your ex-partner’s pension scheme. If the pension is transferred to you and you don’t already have your own pension, you’ll have to set one up.

Pensions offsetting – The value of any pensions is offset against other assets. For example, you may get a bigger share of the family home in return for your ex-partner keeping their pension.

Deferred pension sharing – (not available in Scotland) This is used if your ex-partner’s pension is being shared. They have already retired and are receiving their pension, but you haven’t retired and are too young to be paid a pension.

You both make an agreement to share the pension at a later date. This can be more complicated to arrange than an ordinary pension sharing order, so legal costs can be higher.

Deferred lump sum – (not available in Scotland) You get a lump sum payment from your ex-partner’s pension when they retire.

Pensions attachment order – (called ‘pensions earmarking’ in Scotland) You get some of your ex-partner’s pension when it starts being paid to them. You can get some of the pension income, the lump sum or both. But you can’t get pension payments before your ex-partner has started taking their pension.