Divorce
Matrimonial assets include the value of pension rights. When a marriage or civil partnership breaks down, the courts have to decide how to divide the matrimonial assets.
If you need pension details for divorce purposes
Please send your request in writing to the Transfers-Out Team in the Pensions Service Centre. Please quote your member number or National Insurance number and date of birth.
Please note that your Benefit Illustration does not take account of any pension sharing or earmarking orders made by a court as part of a divorce settlement. The Pensions Service Centre will have written to you confirming the effect on your individual benefits.
Pension sharing
For divorce or dissolution of civil partnership proceedings which started on or after 1 October 2000, the court has the option to split the value of your pension between you and your former spouse/civil partner as part of the overall divorce settlement. This can happen even if you are already receiving a pension.
Part of your pension will then belong to your former spouse/civil partner, who will normally have to transfer the value of it to another pension arrangement. This process - which unlike previously introduced processes is designed to allow a 'clean break' - is known as ‘pension sharing'. Your pension will be reduced to reflect the amount transferred to your former spouse/civil partner.