Many couples overlook pensions in divorce planning, Standard Life warns

There remains widespread uncertainty around how pensions are treated during divorce, with more than a quarter of married people or those in civil partnerships unsure what would happen to their pension if they separated.

The findings from Standard Life revealed that 27% of people with a private pension do not know how pensions would be handled in a divorce, rising to 30% among women.

Meanwhile, almost three quarters (73%) of couples said they have never discussed how their pensions would be treated if their relationship ended.

The research also highlighted lasting regret among some divorcees.

One in five (19%) people who have divorced said they wish they had handled pensions differently during the separation process.

Women are significantly more likely to feel this way, with 28% expressing regret compared to just 9% of men.

The findings reflect broader pension inequalities, with previous research from the Standard Life Centre for the Future of Retirement showing that factors such as childcare, menopause and caring responsibilities often leave women with lower pension savings by middle age.

Despite pensions often being among the largest financial assets after the family home, only 30% of UK adults believe pensions should be considered as part of a divorce settlement, while 47% do not think they should be included at all.