What is a Pension Sharing Order and how do I get one?

Written By Kimberley Sare

If you intend to split or offset a pension with your soon-to-be-ex you need a Pension Sharing Order (PSO). It ensures pensions are split fairly and provides instructions to the pension providers.

In Plain English: What’s a Pension Sharing Order?

A Pension Sharing Order is a formal decision by the court to divide one person’s pension with their soon-to-be-ex. It sets out a clear percentage - and that share gets carved out and transferred into a separate pension for the recipient.

The result? You both walk away with your own retirement savings. No need to stay financially entangled. No gambling on what the future might bring.

Depending on the specific pension(s) that’s shared, you will:

  • keep the share in the same scheme (an internal transfer) or

  • move it into your own pension elsewhere (an external transfer)

Why It Matters

If one of you has built up a large pension - maybe in the NHS, the police, or a company scheme - and the other hasn’t, it’s easy for things to become unfair fast. A Pension Sharing Order is the fairest way to correct that imbalance.

Offsetting (e.g. keeping the house in exchange) sometimes works. But not always. If pensions are complex or hard to value, this route can leave one of you seriously short-changed.

So, How Do You Get One?

Here’s what the process looks like:

1. Start the divorce process. Speak to a solicitor or submit your divorce application if you’re not represented

2. Share your financial picture with your soon-to-be-ex. Both sides have to disclose their assets - including every pension

3. Involve a PODE if needed. A Pensions on Divorce Expert helps you and the court understand what’s fair, especially if there are complex pensions involved

4. Agree the terms of your divorce. You might settle through mutual consent, mediation or by going through the courts.

5. Obtain your Pension Sharing Order.  Depending on how you agreed the terms on your divorce you will get this as part of your ‘Financial Consent Order’ or as part of a ‘Court Order.’

6. Send it to the pension provider. Along with the official Form P1 Annex. If you are the recipient of the pension share, you will definitely want to assess your options with expert support from an IFA (we can recommend an excellent Independent Financial Planners - Guided Financial).

7. Wait for implementation. Once fees are paid and the order is valid, the scheme has up to 4 months to action it.

Costs to Expect

  • Expert fees if a PODE is involved

  • Legal costs for drafting the order (if you are represented)

  • An implementation fee (usually £100–£500)

Don’t Leave It Too Late

Too many people settle without understanding what’s in the pension - or what’s at stake. Years down the line, that can mean one person struggles in retirement while the other doesn’t.

The Bottom Line

A Pension Sharing Order isn’t just paperwork. It’s your safety net. Your chance to walk away with financial clarity and confidence.

Get started now. That’s what we’re here for.

Kimberley Sare
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What is a PODE?