Thinking of a fresh start? – How will divorce shape your financial future?

Recent research* reveals that only 71% of divorced people discussed pensions during the process.

Such assets should never be overlooked because often the pension is more valuable than anything else in the marriage, particularly if it has been accumulated over a long period of time.

This oversight means that women in the UK are losing out on £5bn of pension savings on divorce every year, simply by not pursuing their fair share.

Make sure you are well represented

It is essential to ensure that your advisers are suitably qualified in this area of work because there are many potential pitfalls.  For example, not adequately valuing the pension, failing to obtain full disclosure of all relevant information, dissolving your marriage before a pension sharing order has been made, and even overlooking the state pension.

If the wrong thing is done at the wrong time there may be serious financial consequences.

Our team work closely with suitably qualified chartered financial planners and pension actuaries to make sure that you don’t experience any of these problems. In your particular circumstances some form of pension sharing order would be made to equalise your respective entitlements on retirement.

We work collaboratively to get what you deserve

Our Family Law solicitors recommend our clients use mediation or a collaborative approach in their divorce without going to court. We believe that this should be a last resort. This allows issues like pension savings and balancing out the contributions that were made by both parties during marriage, to be discussed and agreed together, rather than to be imposed by the family courts.

*Scottish Widows and YouGov research 2017.