Pension Sharing on Divorce Calculator
Calculate how a pension sharing order splits your pension on divorce. See the pension credit transferred to your ex-spouse, compare sharing vs offsetting against other marital assets, and estimate the total cost of implementing a pension sharing order.
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How to Use This Calculator
Pension Split tab
Enter your pension CETV or DC value, set the sharing percentage ordered by the court, and select the pension type (Defined Benefit or Defined Contribution). The calculator shows the pension credit transferred to your ex-spouse and the pension debit remaining to the member. Expand "More options" to add a second pension scheme or change the pension status.
Sharing vs Offsetting tab
Enter the total pension value, house equity, and savings. The calculator compares two approaches: Option A shares the pension and splits other assets 50/50; Option B (offsetting) lets one party keep the full pension while the other receives the house and savings. The fairness gap shows whether offsetting is viable for your situation.
Costs of Pension Sharing tab
Enter the number of pension schemes, toggle whether you need an actuarial report, and adjust the individual cost estimates for solicitor fees, court fees, and scheme implementation charges. The calculator totals all costs to give you a full budget estimate.
Share your result
Every input is encoded in the URL. Click Share to send your exact scenario to a partner, solicitor, or save it for later.
The Formula
Pension sharing orders split pensions as a percentage of value at the implementation date:
Pension Debit (member retains) = Pension Value − Pension Credit
For DC pensions:
Pension Credit = Fund Value at Implementation Date × Sharing %
For DB pensions:
Pension Credit = CETV × Sharing %
(CETV = Cash Equivalent Transfer Value, valid for 3 months)
Offsetting comparison:
Total Marital Assets = Pension + House Equity + Savings + Other
Fair Share = Total Marital Assets ÷ 2
Fairness Gap = |Member Total − Spouse Total|
Total Costs = Actuarial Report + Solicitor + Court Fee + Scheme Fee
The sharing percentage is set by the court and applies to the pension value at the date of implementation, not the date of the court order. For DC pensions, market movements between the order and implementation can change the actual amount transferred.
For DB pensions, the CETV is an actuarial estimate that may not reflect the true value of the pension to the member. Public sector pension CETVs were recalculated in 2023 with updated actuarial factors, which significantly increased their values.
Example
James & Sarah — Divorcing with £400K combined pension
James has a DB pension with a CETV of £300,000. Sarah has a small DC pension worth £100,000. The family home has £200,000 equity and they have £50,000 in joint savings. Total combined pension: £400,000.
Step 1: Pension Split (James's DB pension)
50% of £300K CETV = £150K pension credit to Sarah. James's pension reduced proportionally.
Step 2: Sharing vs Offsetting
Offsetting: James keeps £400K pension, Sarah gets £200K house + £50K savings = £250K. That leaves a £150K gap — pension sharing is fairer in this case.
Step 3: Estimated Costs
Budget: actuarial £1,200 + solicitor £2,500 + court £593 + scheme admin £400 = ~£4,693. This represents just 1.2% of the £400,000 pension being shared.