Pension sharing orders (PSOs) have quietly reached their 25th anniversary, yet remain stubbornly underused. Writing in NLJ this week, Joanna Newton of Stowe Family Law argues that this neglect risks long-term financial harm, particularly for women
Despite pensions often being the second-largest matrimonial asset, only a small fraction of divorce settlements include a sharing order. Misunderstanding, complexity and short-term priorities continue to push couples towards offsetting, frequently at the expense of retirement security.
Newton explains how PSOs promote independence, survive remarriage and can prevent future asset sales, while also flagging risks around death before implementation. She calls on practitioners to lead, not follow, pension discussions and to challenge instincts that undervalue future income.
With the gender pension gap still stark, the article frames PSOs not as technical add-ons but as essential tools in achieving genuinely fair outcomes.
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