Carrying out a financial order after divorce or dissolution

How long it takes, and what it would cost

On your own

An hour or so

With Wren

About 10 minutes

Solicitor for each order

£120 to £250half an hour to an hour

Times and hours are Wren’s estimates for a typical case, not quotes. Solicitor costs are those hours at £247 an hour, the courts’ guideline rate for a solicitor with over four years’ experience, outside London (GOV.UK, Solicitors' guideline hourly rates (in effect from 1 January 2026)). The guideline runs from £200 to £295 an hour outside London depending on experience, firms set their own rates, and VAT is added on top.

When the order takes effect

GOV.UK says a financial order only takes effect after the final order of divorce or dissolution. For older cases this is the decree absolute.

Read your order carefully. It sets out each step, who must take it and the dates or deadlines that apply.

Pension sharing orders

A pension sharing order moves part of one person's pension to the other. The order must say this in its body. It must come with a pension sharing annex on Form P1 for each pension arrangement.

A pension attachment order works differently. The scheme pays part of the pension to the other person when payments fall due. That order comes with a pension attachment annex on Form P2.

Sending the order to the pension provider

The court must send the pension provider the documents, or direct one of you to send them. The rules say this happens within 7 days. The 7 days start from the pension order or the final order, whichever is later.

1. A copy of the divorce, dissolution or separation order.
2. A copy of the final order (or decree absolute).
3. The order with the pension sharing or attachment provision.
4. The annex, on Form P1 or Form P2.

How long the pension provider has

The law gives the provider an implementation period of 4 months to carry out a pension share. It is set by section 34 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999.

The 4 months start from whichever is later. One is the day the order takes effect. The other is the day the provider has the order, the divorce or dissolution documents and the information it needs.

Form P1 says the provider should give both of you reasons within 21 days if it cannot start. Form P1 also lets the order say who pays the scheme's pension sharing charges.

Transferring property

If the order says a property is to be transferred, check what it says about who does what and by when.

HM Land Registry says form TR1 is used to transfer the whole of a registered property. The completed form is sent with the correct fee. HM Land Registry recommends getting help from a conveyancer before doing this yourself.

Lump sums and other payments

The order says how much is to be paid and by what date.

Keep a record of each payment made or received, such as bank statements. If you need to enforce the order later, you will need to show the amount due and how it was worked out.

If the other person does not do what the order says

You can apply to the court to enforce an order to pay money. You do not need a MIAM first. You can ask for a particular method, or ask the court to choose.

Form D50K asks the court to enforce using whatever method it thinks right. You state the amount due, and verify it with a statement of truth.

The court then orders the other person to attend court and answer questions on oath. They must also complete a financial statement and file it at least 7 days before the hearing.

1. An attachment of earnings order.
2. A third party debt order.
3. A charging order.
4. Other methods the court can choose.

Fees for enforcement

The court fees list (EX50) sets a fee of £63 for an application for whatever method the court thinks appropriate. Other methods have their own fees. You may be able to get help with court fees.

Changing maintenance payments

Regular payments under the order are called periodical payments. GOV.UK says they can be changed if, for example, one of you loses your job or gets much better paid work.

Form A says to use Form A1 to vary or end a periodical payments order only. Form A is used if you want to end the payments and replace them with a lump sum, property or pension order.

Key dates

1. Within 7 days of the pension order or the final order, whichever is laterThe court sends the order and annex to the pension provider, or directs a party to send them.Source: official page ↗ (external source, opens in a new tab)
2. Within 21 days of the provider receiving the order and annexForm P1 says the provider should give reasons if it cannot start.Source: official page ↗ (external source, opens in a new tab)
3. Within 4 monthsThe provider carries out the pension share, counted from the later of the order taking effect or receiving everything it needs.Source: official page ↗ (external source, opens in a new tab)
4. At least 7 days before an enforcement hearingThe person who has not paid files and serves a financial statement.Source: official page ↗ (external source, opens in a new tab)