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Divorce and your pension

You may be visiting our web site because you have been granted a share of a pension but do not know where to invest it. If this is the case then the process we follow will ensure your funds are invested to maximise your benefits and in line with your circumstances, needs and aspirations. Pensionlite provides Independent, whole of market, no obligation advice and recommendations. Please complete the attached Pension and Divorce info form.

If you are visiting our web site because you are seeking guidance or information about your pension entitlement, in the event of a divorce, then we are pleased to provide assistance but recommend you always seek legal advice before entering into any agreement with a spouse. For further information please complete the Pension and Divorce info form.

The pensions of both parties in a divorce may be considered when the court decides what money goes where. If one spouse never worked, while the other built up a large pension fund, this will have to be taken into account. The calculations can be complex.

Company pension schemes are usually valued at their 'transfer value' - the amount of money which would be transferred if the holder moved it to another company scheme. Private personal pensions are taken at their fund value. But, valuing a pension fund is one thing - working out how to distribute it is quite another.

There are three ways of handling the division of pension rights in a divorce, although since new rules were introduced in the year 2000, the third option - 'pension splitting' - has become the preferred option for many women.

Divorce can create financial difficulties. The pensions of both parties in a divorce may be considered when the court decides what money goes where. If one spouse never worked, while the other built up a large pension fund, this will have to be taken into account. The calculations can be complex.

There are three ways of handling the division of pension rights in a divorce, although since new rules were introduced in the year 2000, the third option - 'pension splitting' - has become the preferred option for many women.

Here's how they all work:

Offset

Since you can't really split a pension down the middle, the court can decide to allow one partner to keep their pension and award the other partner a greater share of the family home, for example, to 'offset' the value of the pension
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Here is what some of our
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Hi Andy,

Thank you for the excellent service was not expecting this and could not happen at a better time, told last week of redundancy in April.

Regards J

Hi Richard – I have now had all the money from my pension drawdown into my current account.

I would just like to a HUGE thank you to you and everyone at Pensionlite. From the first phone call to the last everyone has been thoroughly professional, explained each step clearly and, most importantly, just got on with the job and delivered. Rare qualities indeed. More power to you all and thanks again.

M.
London

Dear Andy

Thank you for your speedy assistance in helping me release some cash from my pension. The essential repairs to my property are well under way now and I can look forward without worry to a more comfortable future.

Mrs S.
Tyne & Wear

Dear Ian

My tax free cash arrived in my bank today and in view of my recent difficulties thought I should write and thank you personally for your assistance and reassurance during the process. All of your staff have been very helpful but you have been particularly supportive and explained things in a way I could understand when we first spoke. All the best. I will certainly tell my friends about you.

Bob P.
Milton Keynes

Dear Roy and Andy

I have now received confirmation that my pension transfer has been done and my new plan is in force. Thank you for your assistance in reorganising my pensions. I feel far happier now everything is in one place and that the investments are in lower risk funds. I will be registering with the on line service so I can check my pension values myself on a daily basis and am very pleased with yours and your companies services.

Dave J
Glasgow

Dear Andy

I am writing to thank you for assisting me with my complaint about my old pension policy. My funds have been transferred to my new plan and I have the new policy document. It is reassuring to know that I can check the values on line when I want and that after next year I can begin to take benefits if and when I decide to. The compensation I received has also helped to pay off a few bills so even better.

Thank you once again. I will certainly recommend you to my friends.

Jennifer S
Lincoln

Earmarking

The court can also earmark one partner's pension. This means that when the pension finally pays out, in 20 years or so, part of the pension is reserved for the other partner. The problem with this system is that having divorced your husband or wife, you then have to sit around for years waiting for them to retire before you get any money. If they choose to retire late, you have to wait longer. And if they die before retirement you can be left with nothing.

Pension splitting

In December 2000 the law on pensions splitting was changed. On divorce, a spouse can now be entitled to half of the main breadwinner's pension (whether it's the husband or wife). This applies to the tax-free lump sum as well.

This means that one spouse can lay immediate claim to a percentage of their partner's pension pot and move the money to another fund. They will no longer have to wait around for their partner to retire. This means that there can be a cleaner break in the divorce and it allows each partner more direct control over their finances. Pension schemes will have to make a cash transfer available so that the other spouse can start a new fund.

Remarrying

The Government brought in the pension splitting law to prevent the wife from losing out even if she remarries. Also, she is protected in the instance that her husband dies, taking his pension rights with him, before she draws her share of the pension, or if a husband decided to delay taking his pension, as they would have to wait too.

 
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