General information, not advice on your own case.
- It is the kind of pension, not the size, that decides whether you need an expert.
- You probably do need one if there is a defined benefit or public sector pension of any real size: NHS, teachers, armed forces, police, fire, local government or civil service.
- You probably do need one if the pensions are large next to your other assets, if you are different ages or retiring at very different times, or if anything is unusual.
- You may not need one if the pensions are all pots of money, of similar size, with no complicating features. Then the value is roughly the balance.
- A guaranteed pension is a different kind of asset from a pot of money, and only the first usually needs an actuary to value it properly.
- If a good expert tells you that you do not need a full report, take that as a good sign, not a lost opportunity.
Not sure which kind you are dealing with? The free “Do I need a PODE?” check asks the right questions.
Not every divorce needs a pension valuation. Paying for one you don’t
need is a waste; skipping one you do need can cost you far more. The
deciding factor is not the size of the pensions so much as the
kind.
You probably do need an expert if:
- there is a defined benefit (“final salary” or “career
average”) pension of any real size, including any
public-sector pension (NHS, teachers, armed forces,
police, fire, local government, civil service). The transfer value these
schemes quote is not a reliable guide to what they are worth, and
dividing on it can be badly unfair;
- the pensions are large relative to your other
assets;
- you and your ex-spouse are different ages or will
retire at very different times, so an “equal” split of
value could still leave you with very unequal incomes;
- there is anything unusual, ill-health, overseas
pensions, a mix of scheme types, or a dispute about how much of the
pension counts.
You may not need one if:
- the pensions are all defined contribution (pots of
money), of similar size, with no complicating
features, in that case the value is roughly the balance, and
there may be little an expert can add.
The important idea is that a guaranteed pension is a
different kind of asset from a pot of money, and only
the first usually needs an actuary to value it properly. If you are not
sure which you are dealing with, that is exactly what the “Do I need a
PODE?” tool is for, it asks the right questions and gives you an answer
in a couple of minutes, without any paperwork.
And if a good expert looks at your case and tells you that you don’t
need a full report, take that as a good sign, not a lost
opportunity.
July 2026