Divorce

At the dissolution of a marriage or Civil partnership appropriate financial provision needs to be made for each of the parties. Pension entitlements are often the most important financial resource for a couple – apart from their home.

The law requires that pension rights must be taken into account in any property division in these circumstances. This does not mean that pension benefits have to be reallocated or shared - but they must be taken into account. It is, however, often convenient to utilise pension resources to make a sustainable financial settlement with a former partner.

In general, there are three methods available, on a “mix and match” basis, by which such division can take place. These are sharing benefits as they arise, reallocating pension assets from one partner to another and adjusting assets to take account of the value of pension rights.

The actuarial process includes quantifying and assessing the respective pension benefits available. Nigel Sloam & Co has for many years provided a specialist divorce counselling service to clients and their lawyers. When requested, we will recommend reallocations of rights, designed to optimise clients’ needs.

The firm will provide independent reports to the Court as well as to practitioners and will assist in forensic investigation as and when necessary. We have worked on a wide range of cases involving pension rights arising in international and non registered schemes.

The firm has substantial contacts with many major specialist lawyers in this area and can act either for a single party or receive joint instructions in suitable cases.