The Family Court has the power to make a range of orders affecting pensions on divorce/dissolution of civil partnership, whether by ‘earmarking’ orders through which the recipient gains an entitlement to the payer’s existing pensions, or pensions sharing orders, in which a part of the payer’s pension is paid out into a separate fund in the recipient’s name.

For some payers, a pensions sharing order is a tax efficient way of funding a settlement. For recipients nearing retirement, it can provide valuable security for their old age. We have particular experience of dealing with the complex issues which arise in valuing a party’s pension rights for the purpose of division.