Merits of pension splitting ignored in most divorce cases

Despite the encouragement of solicitors, divorcing couples are still failing to consider the merits of pension splitting, according to new research.

The survey carried out by the Solicitors Family Law Association found that most divorcing couples are discouraged from taking pensions into account in the divorce settlement by legal and financial complexities.

Other reasons given included seeing the family home as the top priority in a settlement and younger people not seeing pensions as an important factor.

Although it emphasised that family solicitors were positive about the arrangements, introduced in December 2000, which allow couples to share a pension fund as part of the overall divorce settlement, 68% of respondents to the survey of 35 family lawyers said their clients were still reluctant to explore the option.

Victoria MacCallum