Yes, pensions can be shared as part of a financial settlement. There are three main ways this can happen:

· Pension sharing – A percentage of one spouse’s pension is transferred to the other.

· Pension offsetting – One spouse keeps their pension while the other receives other assets (for example, a larger share of the family home).

· Pension attachment – A portion of pension benefits is paid to the ex-spouse when the pension holder retires.

If you separate without divorcing, pensions cannot be formally divided, though a surviving spouse may still be entitled to some benefits.

Often a couple will share the responsibilities of being a pet owner, which makes it difficult to determine who it “belongs” to in the event of a divorce.

The primary, legal consideration for the courts is who has proof of ownership. However, if both parties share this, case law suggests that the pet will go to the party who has principally looked after it based on evidence. If the pet was clearly gifted to the other party, then the recipient of the gift will keep it. Find out more about pets and divorce.

A divorce ends a legally valid marriage, while an annulment declares the marriage was never legally valid in the first place.

A marriage is considered not legally valid if you’re closely related to the person you married, one or both of you were under 18 (or under 16 if the marriage took place before 27 February 2023) or one of you was already married or in a civil partnership.

A marriage can also be voidable by annulment if:

· It was not consummated (this does not apply for same sex couples)

· You did not properly consent to the marriage

· The other person had a sexually transmitted disease when you got married

· Your spouse was pregnant by someone else when you got married

· One spouse is in the process of transitioning to a different gender

Divorce can be a difficult time for children, but how it affects them depends on how the process is handled. Courts prioritise the best interests of children when making decisions about child arrangements and financial support.

Where possible, it’s best to resolve child arrangements outside of court. Mediation, negotiation, or collaborative law can help parents reach agreements that work for everyone involved. At Lodders, we support parents in finding child-focused solutions while minimising conflict.