What is a CETV and how do I get one?

A Cash Equivalent Transfer Value (CETV) is what your pension scheme would transfer if you moved to another scheme. Pension trustees must provide a CETV free of charge during divorce proceedings (once per 12-month period).

Should I share my pension or offset it against the house?

Pension sharing creates a clean break with an independent pension pot. Offsetting is simpler but gives up a tax-efficient growing retirement fund. CETVs typically undervalue defined benefit pensions by 20–40% compared to their true economic value.

Does sharing my pension affect its ongoing growth?

Once a pension sharing order takes effect, the transferred pension credit becomes entirely separate. Your remaining portion continues to grow as normal. Your spouse's pension credit grows independently in their chosen scheme.

What about the State Pension — can it be shared?

The new State Pension (post-2016) cannot be shared on divorce. However, you may use your former spouse's NI contributions to boost your own State Pension entitlement in certain circumstances.

How much does implementing a pension sharing order cost?

Pension schemes charge an implementation fee, typically ranging from £500 to £3,000+ depending on the scheme. These costs need to be factored into settlement negotiations.

UK Pension Sharing Calculator 2026

Calculate pension sharing order percentages, transfer values and compare sharing, attachment and offsetting approaches for UK divorce settlements.

Updated April 2026 WRPA 1999 · Pension Sharing Orders Private — runs in your browser

Partner A Pension (CETV)(larger pension)

Partner B Pension (CETV)(smaller pension)

Other Matrimonial Assets(property, savings etc.)

Calculation Mode

Equalisation Sharing Order

38% of Partner A's pension

Transfer Value£67,500

Partner A Pension After£112,500

Partner B Pension After£112,500

Total Pensions£225,000

Advanced Calculator

CETV comparison chart across multiple pensions, and sharing vs attachment order comparison with pros and cons.

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Pension Cash Equivalent Transfer Values

Paying Spouse Pension 1 (CETV)

Paying Spouse Pension 2 (CETV)

Receiving Spouse Pension (CETV)

Sharing Percentage

Pension Sharing Order: 50% of paying spouse pensions

Pension Sharing Result

£182,500 transferred

Combined Pension Pot£410,000

Equal Share Target£205,000

Paying Spouse After Order£182,500

Receiving Spouse After Order£227,500

% for Equalisation43.8%

Professional Simulator

Full multi-pension analysis with DB/DC comparison, state pension impact, pension credit age planning, and per-pension breakdown table.

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All Paying Spouse Pensions

DB Scheme (employer)

CETV

Pension Type

Annual Pension Income

DC Workplace Pension

CETV

Pension Type

Personal Pension (SIPP)

CETV

Pension Type

Receiving Spouse Pension

Receiving Spouse Total Pension (CETV)

Sharing Percentage

% of each paying spouse pension to share: 50%

Full Pension Sharing Analysis

£260,000 total pension credit

Total Paying Spouse CETVs£520,000

Receiving Spouse CETV£52,000

Combined Pension Pot£572,000

% Needed for Equalisation45.0%

Paying Spouse After Orders£260,000

Receiving Spouse After Orders£312,000

Per-Pension Breakdown

Pension	Type	CETV	Credit (50%)	Remaining
DB Scheme (employer)	DB	£380,000	£190,000	£190,000
DC Workplace Pension	DC	£95,000	£47,500	£47,500
Personal Pension (SIPP)	DC	£45,000	£22,500	£22,500

DB pensions: CETVs for defined benefit schemes may understate true value — actuarial review recommended. DB scheme trustees have 3 months to provide a CETV. For public sector pensions (NHS, teachers, civil service), specialist actuarial input is strongly advised.

How UK Pension Sharing Works

Pensions are often the largest asset in a divorce after the family home. The Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 introduced pension sharing orders, giving each spouse an independent pension entitlement. Courts have three approaches: sharing, attachment (earmarking), and offsetting.

The Cash Equivalent Transfer Value (CETV) — provided by the pension scheme — is used to value pensions for division purposes. Obtaining a CETV is free for most pension holders during divorce proceedings.

Three Pension Division Approaches

Sharing Order: A percentage of pension A is transferred into a new pension credit for the other spouse. Clean break — fully independent post-divorce. Attachment: Future pension payments (lump sum or income) are earmarked for the other spouse. Dependent on when/whether partner draws pension. Offsetting: One spouse keeps their full pension; the other receives more of another asset (e.g. property). Simple but risks undervaluing future pension growth.

Example Calculation

Example: Equalising Pensions via Sharing Order

Partner A pension CETV£180,000

Partner B pension CETV£45,000

Total pension pool£225,000

Equal share each£112,500

Sharing order (% of A's pension)37.5%

Transfer value£67,500

Partner A after£112,500

Partner B after£112,500

The pension credit of £67,500 is transferred into a new pension arrangement for Partner B, completely independent of Partner A's pension fund and retirement decisions.

Official Sources & Legal References

Frequently Asked Questions

A Cash Equivalent Transfer Value (CETV) is the value your pension scheme places on your pension benefits — the amount that would be transferred if you moved to another scheme. During divorce proceedings, pension trustees must provide a CETV free of charge (once per 12-month period). For defined benefit (final salary) pensions, obtaining an independent actuarial report alongside the CETV is often advisable as CETVs can undervalue these pensions.

This is one of the most important financial decisions in a UK divorce. Pension sharing creates a clean break with an independent pension pot. Offsetting is simpler (keep the house, they keep the pension) but means you are giving up a tax-efficient, growing retirement fund in exchange for a less liquid asset. Pension values are also actuarially uncertain — a CETV typically undervalues defined benefit pensions by 20–40% compared to their true economic value.

Once a pension sharing order takes effect, the "pension credit" transferred to your spouse becomes entirely separate. You retain the remaining portion of your pension, which continues to grow as normal. Your spouse's pension credit is placed either in the same scheme (an internal transfer) or in a new scheme of their choice (an external transfer), where it grows independently.

The new State Pension (post-2016) cannot be shared on divorce. However, you may be able to use your former spouse's National Insurance contributions to boost your own State Pension entitlement if you were married before April 2016 and your spouse reached State Pension age before April 2016. The old Additional State Pension (SERPS/S2P) can be shared via a pension sharing order.

Pension schemes charge an implementation fee, typically ranging from £500 to £3,000+ depending on the scheme (public sector pensions tend to charge more). These costs need to be factored into settlement negotiations. The charges are usually the responsibility of the pension member, but can be shared or attributed differently by agreement.

When to Consult a UK Solicitor

Consult a licensed UK solicitor if your case involves: a defined benefit (final salary) pension which often requires an independent actuarial report; multiple pensions across different schemes; public sector pension sharing (NHS, teachers, civil service) which has specific rules and potentially high implementation fees; or where you are unsure whether pension sharing, attachment or offsetting is appropriate for your financial circumstances.

UK Pension Sharing Calculator 2026

How UK Pension Sharing Works

Three Pension Division Approaches

Example Calculation

Example: Equalising Pensions via Sharing Order

Frequently Asked Questions

When to Consult a UK Solicitor

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