Army pension

I too am glad that the thread is back on topic! But thats the trouble when it comes to splitting up pensions and debts. The basic facts are that ONE pension is now being split between TWO people...who need TWO houses...TWO lots of house insureances...TWo lots of bills to run the house..TWO cars (?) etc. And a single pension just can't do that (well, it might if you are Fred the Shred, or an MP!). So it ends up in a battle of each side trying to justify their claim. This justification is bound to be based on the couple's relative 'input' into the pension.
Surely the court needs to know what went on during the years as the pension pot built up. And importantly why, and who was the catalyst for the marriage break-up.
Surely anybody in their right mind can see that if the partner (husband or wife) who breaks up the relationship with the pension earner, by his or her actions (or inactions!), then the pension earner will be quite annoyed at having to 'lose' half of the pension...and therefore have less ability to pay the mortgage and bills mentioned earlier!!
Anyway, of course I think my ex is entitled to some of my pension - but I think every case is different, and while the advice given in this thread, and others, is great, the best thing to do is to get a good solicitor on your side....and preferably one who is better than your ex's!!

hi
i am pretty sure it really does not matter who did what and why they did it not when it comes to the financial split i dont think blame has anything to do with the out come at all.
All that i think matters to a court is time and length of marriage and any children i could be wrong but i am sure if i am someone will soon post the correct answer .x

dido,

You are absolutely right. For conduct to be considered as a factor when the finances are settled it would have to be pretty grave. An example often quoted is if the wife was a model and her husband attacked her and scarred her face so she could no longer work and earn at the same level ..

The other issue is contributions - but how much they are taken into account will depend on the length of the marriage and whether each party's needs can easily be met from the available pot ....(see sec 25 of the 1973 Matrimonial Causes Act).

Arguing about either of these can just end up making a fortune for the solicitors because the chances are that neither will make any difference to the outcome. So no matter how frustrated you are, it is best to try to put the emotion to one side and deal only with the hard facts of the finances.

Hadenoughnow

"Surely anybody in their right mind can see that if the partner (husband or wife) who breaks up the relationship with the pension earner, by his or her actions (or inactions!), then the pension earner will be quite annoyed at having to 'lose' half of the pension...and therefore have less ability to pay the mortgage and bills mentioned earlier!!"
I kinda get the impression that the law doesn't care if you are annoyed or not! At the end of the day does it matter why the relationship ended? The sad thing is, as funfair pointed out, often there isn't enough money for both parties to continue with the same lifestyle that they were acustomed to so both are less well off. My advice to young people today would be to make sure your finances as a couple are stable because you never know what is round the corner!

Hi
i have a question regarding the full pension which i am told my s2bx will receive when he is 55.
What is the difference between this at 55 and the one he gets when he leaves the army after 22 years or is there not a difference .
As i was talking to a friend today who said that she is pretty sure at the age of 55 they receive a full pension which is more than the pension they receive after 22 years both these are the same pension just differant amounts is she correct in thinking this she said that she is preety sure the amount paid increases at 55 .
I dont no so i thought i would ask here thank you x.

My STBX has just started to receive his pension after 27 years service and I believe it goes up every 5 years or so he has told me. He is 50 so that makes sense.

An Army pension is payable on AFPS75 at the 22 yr point, the amount stays the same until the pensioners 55th birthday it is then index linked from the 22 yr point and then index linked every year after,hope that makes sense.