Equal pensions in divorce
20th January 2026
New research showing mismatched pension savings between men and women should remind divorcing couples to equally share their pensions.
Kate Booth, solicitor and head of our Family & Matrimonial team, comments after new research revealed that divorced women typically have £53,160 less in pension savings than divorced men.
Women depart divorces with an average of £32,640 in pension savings, amounting to just 39% of the £85,800 retained by divorced men, according to the research from Mercer, now:pensions and the Pensions Policy Institute.
The findings also show a significant pension wealth gap among married couples, with men holding £111,540 and women’s average pension funds at just £43,656 – a difference of 61%.
Kate explains that the research, to be released in full in the 2026 Gender Pensions Gap report, should remind couples to make sure pension assets are properly considered in divorce settlements.
“When divorcing, most couples will have thought about what will happen with the family home, and how to divide joint accounts, but many do not consider their pensions following separation.
Pensions can make up a significant proportion of a family’s assets and can sometimes be more valuable than a property. However, because they won’t start to pay out until retirement, they are often overlooked.
One spouse might find that they have received lower income over the course of the marriage, working part-time or taking on more of the childcare responsibilities.
Because of this, they might not have had as much opportunity as their partner to build up their own pension fund, leaving them in a significantly weaker position when they retire.
It is important to be aware that all pensions – regardless of whose name they are in, or when they were built up – can be shared between separated spouses under a Pension Sharing Order made by the court on divorce.
It is important to make sure that both parties’ financial needs can be met in the future – this includes their need for income during retirement.
A pension sharing order will transfer part of one spouse’s pension into a separate fund for the other, giving them their own source of income and enabling there to be a financial clean break.”
Contact us if you require assiatance with this matter.
Our experienced family lawyers can provide you with the divorce advice and representation you need to secure the right outcome for yourself and your family. We have a strong understanding of pension division in divorce, and we will discuss your circumstances in detail so that you have a clear picture of your options.