Getting a value and the costs
If a tool, a solicitor, or an expert has told you to “get your CE” and you are not sure how, this is the page for you. It is often the first practical step in dealing with pensions on divorce.
Home › Resources › How to get a cash equivalent (CE) value
General information, not advice on your own case.
Got your values? Put them into the free “Do I need a PODE?” check.
A cash equivalent (CE, sometimes called a CETV) is the figure a pension scheme puts on your pension: broadly, the amount it would pay to move your benefits elsewhere, or a notional value for public-sector schemes you cannot transfer out of. It is the starting number for dividing a pension on divorce. (It is not always a fair value, especially for defined benefit and public-sector pensions, but you still need it to begin. See the main pension sharing guide for why.)
You need a CE for each pension, for both of you.
You request it from the pension scheme or provider. A short letter or email is usually enough. Ask for:
Include your full name, date of birth, National Insurance number, and your policy or membership number if you have it. Say that it is needed in connection with a divorce, as some schemes route those requests to a particular team.
If you do not know who holds an old pension, the government’s free Pension Tracing Service can help you find the provider.
Workplace or personal pensions (defined contribution “pots”). Usually the quickest. The provider gives a current transfer value, often within a few weeks.
Defined benefit / final salary schemes (private sector). The scheme calculates a CE. You are generally entitled to one free CE in any 12-month period, and the scheme must normally provide it within three months of your request. A defined benefit transfer value is usually guaranteed for three months, so note the expiry date.
Public-sector schemes (NHS, teachers, armed forces, police, fire, local government, civil service). These can take longer, sometimes considerably, and there may be a specific divorce request process or form. Because of the ongoing “McCloud” correction, a value you are given may be provisional and could change. Ask the scheme to confirm whether the figure is final or provisional.
State Pension. Ask for a State Pension forecast for each of you (available free on GOV.UK). Only certain parts of the State Pension can be shared, so if that is relevant the scheme or a PODE can advise, but the forecast is worth having because the two of you can have very different entitlements.
The first CE in a 12-month period is normally free. Additional valuations, or ones needed in a hurry, may carry a charge, and some schemes charge for the extra work of a divorce-specific calculation. Ask about any fee before you request it.
Do not simply divide the CE in half and call it settled. For a defined contribution pot the CE is a fair reflection of value; for a defined benefit or public-sector pension it often is not, and dividing on it can be badly unfair. Once you have your CEs:
Chase in writing and keep a record of dates. If a scheme misses the three-month deadline, say so and ask them to escalate. Public-sector delays are common, so request your CEs early, especially if you are working to a court timetable.
July 2026
The free check takes about two minutes and tells you where you stand.