POLICE PENSION

On the face of it, approx. 61% of the pension was built up during the marriage so, as a starting point, 30.5% of the pension & 50% of the proceeds of sale might be reasonable.

However, as I mentioned previously, I would expect her solicitor to want a formal valuation of the pension as its true value is almost certainly higher than the CETV, and the convention of using only the proportion of the pension built up in the marriage is common but not compulsary - the whole of the pension is potentially a matrimonial asset.

What is the best option depends on what your prioorities are:

If you have the pension and she has the money, you have no lump sum now, but will have the option of a lump sum when you retire (on the cirrent figures this would be in the region of £60K) plus the income from your pension. If you split the pension, you have cash up front to use as a deposit but you will have a lower pension in retirement - so part of the decision is to consider which is more important to you, personally.

it also depends on your wife's priorities. if she wants a pension, A court will not force her to acept a higher share of the money instead. She may feel that giving up a pension pot of £70+ to retain cash of £39K would be unwise.

You could of course offer a diffrent compromise - say a 2/3 1/3 split of the cash and a smaller pension share, if you need some money for a deposit

Thank you TBagpuss - some quality information there. I have recently been told though that there was a recent test case within the last 12 months whereby the courts must now use the CETV as opposed to an actuary report - not sure how true that is but it was in an article in the Police Review some time ago. Clearly this is beneficial to me.

So to make it clear, if the ex wife makes her claim on my pension, I still get to claim my half of the proceedings of the house sale? Correct?
If so, therefore, Lets say she claims her full entitlement of 30.5% - is that 30.5% of the final lump sum in todays rates(£60,000) or the expected lump sum projected to be £120,000+ upon retirement in 6+ years?(£40,000 ish) Or is it 30.5% of £60,000 (todays amount).Is this paid as a lump sum upon my retirement and does she also get a proportional amount of my monthly pension.And of course I then get £39,000 now?
Another item is that the reason we split up was my finding out that one of the children (now 22 years old) was not mine after me bringing her up after 14 years.I did raise this in court as conduct - to have the judge say "it is not relevant!!" Is this something I should pursue as it is unreasonable conduct that has affected my financial position ?
On top of all that the government are saying not to use CETV at all in the current climate to determine pension valuation because of the intended changes to public sector workers pensions. I forced my company to send me a CETV to push things along as it has gone on for 7 years and I want an end to it. Is this the right decision - or should I wait until they announce what is going to happen to the pensions next year - another wait?
Sorry to ask so many questions!

I am 23 and half years into my police service and retire in 6 and half years. I have a valuation done of £203,000 (cetv)(not £234 as previously given - change due to government working out method) of my current pension. There is £78,000 in a bank account from the sale of our house(which we cant touch yet til this matter is settled). What I want to know is what should I do in relation to settlement? I have worked out that she is entitled to £40,000 of my pension,is this £40,000 lump sum - end of story? Or is it £40,000 plus some money every month or what. I am thinking if it is a lump sum, to take my half of the £78,000 (£39,000) now and then pay her the £40,000 when I retire - my real plan is to invest the money I get now in order to stop her getting it all now should I die in the meantime. Can anyone help? A Solicitor wants £300 to let me have this information.If this is a good idea I am thinking of sending her solicitor my CETV valuation papers and an offer of £40,000 when I retire? HELP HELP HELP!!!!