Pensions are frequently overlooked - but they can be worth as much as the family home, particularly for long marriages and public-sector schemes. Ignoring them is one of the most expensive mistakes in a DIY divorce.
The three mechanisms
- Pension sharing order - splits a specific percentage of one pension into a new pension for the other spouse. Clean and final.
- Pension offsetting - one spouse keeps their pension, the other takes a larger share of other assets. Simple but hard to value fairly.
- Pension attachment (earmarking) - payments are diverted when the pension pays out. Rare because it doesn't create a clean break.
CETV isn't the whole story
A Cash Equivalent Transfer Value (CETV) is the starting point, but defined-benefit and public-sector pensions are often worth significantly more than their CETV. A Pensions on Divorce Expert (PODE) report is standard for larger cases.
This article is general information about the law of England and Wales, not legal advice. For advice on your situation, speak to a solicitor.