Law Articles

Lost Pensions: Why They Matter on Divorce or Dissolution 28/09/2026

When a marriage or civil partnership ends, both parties are required to provide full and accurate financial disclosure. This includes pensions, even old pension arrangements that may not have been considered for many years.

It is surprisingly easy to lose track of a pension. People change jobs, move house and pension providers merge, change their names or transfer their business to another administrator. Sometimes an old pension only comes to light when historic paperwork is found while financial disclosure is being prepared.

An old pension should not be dismissed simply because the original paperwork shows a relatively small figure.

For example, paperwork relating to an employer’s pension scheme left in 1985 might show what appears to be a modest pension entitlement. After the increases applied over the intervening years, however, its current value or the income it provides may be considerably greater. In one example, a pension that had largely been forgotten about was later found to provide approximately £10,000 gross per year.

How can you trace an old pension?

A useful starting point is the Government’s free Pension Tracing Service: GOV.UK – Find pension contact details.

The service can help identify the current contact details for an old workplace or personal pension scheme, including where the original provider has changed its name, merged with another organisation or transferred the pension to a different administrator.

You will usually need some starting information, such as the name of a former employer or pension provider.

It is important to understand that the Pension Tracing Service does not confirm whether you have a pension or tell you what it is worth. Once the current provider or administrator has been identified, you will need to contact them directly.

Why does this matter in divorce and dissolution proceedings?

Pensions can be an important part of the overall financial picture on divorce or dissolution. An old pension that has been overlooked may therefore affect the financial disclosure provided by either party and, potentially, the terms of any financial settlement.

Once an old pension has been located, your family solicitor will usually need an up-to-date Cash Equivalent Transfer Value (CETV) or other appropriate information from the pension provider. Depending on the type and value of the pensions involved, specialist pension advice may also be required before a settlement is reached.

The Government is also developing the MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard, which is intended to allow individuals to view information about different pensions securely in one place. Public access is currently expected during the 2027/28 financial year, although the final launch date has not yet been confirmed.

For anyone going through divorce or dissolution, the important point is not to assume that an old or forgotten pension is irrelevant. If you remember paying into a pension through a previous employer, even many years ago, it is worth trying to trace it so that the financial position can be properly understood before a settlement is agreed.

For further information and advice on this issue, and other family law issues, please contact us for a free initial consultation.