Police Divorce
Checklist and Timeline
Every step of a divorce or dissolution in England and Wales when one of you is a police officer, in the order it happens: the no-fault divorce, the money, the police pension steps with their legal time limits, and the police-specific jobs people forget, such as the death grant, nominations and telling the vetting unit. Written for officers and for their partners.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 19 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
The divorce takes at least 183 days: 20 weeks from the application to the conditional order, then 6 weeks and 1 day to the final order. In parallel, ask for the police pension CETV (6 weeks if you say it is for divorce), exchange disclosure and agree the money; a consent order can be approved after the conditional order. Do not apply for the final order until the financial order is made. A pension share then takes effect after the final order and appeal time, and the scheme has 4 months to implement it.
Divorce timeline planner
Your key dates, with the police pension steps
England and Wales. Enter the date the application was (or will be) made. The court can change these periods in a particular case.
Defaults to the application date.
Divorce or dissolution application issued: from 19 October 2026
Either of you, or both jointly, applies online or on paper. No blame is needed. Source
Police pension cash equivalent (CETV) due from the scheme: by 30 November 2026
You told the scheme, when you asked, that it is needed for divorce proceedings, so it has 6 weeks. Source
Earliest date to apply for the conditional order: from 8 March 2027
20 weeks from the start of proceedings. Use the time to agree the money, including the pension. Source
Financial order (consent order or court decision)
A court can make a final financial order, including a pension sharing order, once the conditional order is made. Most people agree the terms and send a consent order with Form D81 and the pension sharing annex (Form P1).
Earliest date to apply for the final order: from 20 April 2027
6 weeks and 1 day after the conditional order. With a police pension at stake, most solicitors advise not applying until the financial order is made: once you are divorced, the former spouse loses any survivor's pension rights. Source
The whole process at a glance
A police divorce runs on three tracks at once. They have different clocks, and the mistakes usually happen where they meet.
The planner above works out the dates from your own application date. The rest of this page explains each step, with a worked example, and ends with a phase-by-phase checklist for the officer and the partner. A free printable version of the checklist is offered at the end of the page.
This page follows the law in England and Wales. Scotland has different divorce law, a different pension valuation and a 2-month deadline to send orders to SPPA: see police divorce in Scotland. In Northern Ireland, divorce is still based on facts such as adultery, behaviour or separation (Matrimonial Causes (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 art 3).
The first month after separating: a practical list
Nothing in the law requires you to do these things in the first month, but each one is easier early than late, and some (the pension value and the vetting report) have their own clocks. This is a suggested order, not a rule.
| Week | Officer | Partner |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Look after yourself and any children first. Tell your line manager or welfare only what you choose. Note the date you separated | The same. Keep a note of the date of separation and of any agreement about the home and bills |
| Week 1 to 2 | Report the change of circumstances to your force vetting unit using its process | If you are police staff or an officer too, report it to your own vetting unit |
| Week 2 | Copy 12 months of payslips, your P60s, bank statements and your latest pension benefit statement | Copy your own payslips, bank statements and pension statements; note the officer's force and rank |
| Week 2 to 3 | Write to the pension administrator for a divorce cash equivalent, saying it is for divorce proceedings. Diary the 6-week date | Ask the officer for the administrator's name and for a copy of the value when it arrives |
| Week 3 to 4 | Review your will and any life cover you own; ask your Federation branch about the group insurance beneficiary form | Review your will and life cover too |
| Week 4 | Agree interim arrangements for the children around the roster; consider a parenting plan | The same; check what child maintenance would be on the CMS formula |
| Month 1 onwards | Decide with your partner whether to apply jointly, and take initial legal advice (your branch may publish a family law arrangement) | Take initial legal advice; read what a police pension credit would give you |
If there has been abuse, or you are worried about your safety or the children's, the order changes: safety comes first, the mediation meeting requirement has exemptions for domestic abuse, and GOV.UK's guidance on making child arrangements says to call 999 if there is immediate risk of harm.
The divorce itself: five steps under no-fault divorce
Since 6 April 2022, the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 has changed section 1 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. A statement that the marriage has broken down irretrievably is now conclusive evidence of it. Nobody has to prove adultery, behaviour or a period of separation, and nobody has to be blamed. The same reforms apply to dissolving a civil partnership. GOV.UK says you must have been married, or in the civil partnership, for over a year.
| Step | What happens | Time rule | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Apply | One of you (sole) or both of you (joint) applies online or by post with a statement that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. The statement is conclusive: no blame, no separation period. Fee £628. You must have been married (or in the civil partnership) for over a year | None | MCA 1973 s.1(2); GOV.UK |
| 2. Acknowledge | Sole application: the other spouse gets the application and an acknowledgement of service, and must respond within 14 days. They can dispute it only on limited legal grounds | 14 days to respond | GOV.UK |
| 3. Wait | The waiting period starts when the court issues the application. Use it to sort out money, the pension and the children | 20 weeks | MCA 1973 s.1(5) |
| 4. Conditional order | Apply to confirm you want to continue. The court can now approve a consent order about money | From 20 weeks after issue | MCA 1973 s.1(4)-(5); GOV.UK |
| 5. Final order | Apply to end the marriage. Within 12 months of the conditional order, or explain the delay. A respondent can apply only after a further 3 months | At least 43 days (6 weeks and 1 day) after the conditional order | MCA 1973 s.1(5)-(6); GOV.UK |
Joint or sole. You can apply together or one of you can apply alone. GOV.UK's guidance for joint applications says that if the other person has not completed their part after 14 days, the first applicant can switch to a sole application, and cannot switch back. A joint application can also continue as a sole one at the conditional order stage.
The waits are minimums. The court can shorten either period in a particular case (MCA 1973 s.1(8)), but that is unusual. In practice the dates move later, not earlier: applications take time to issue and orders take time to be made.
Worked example: the dates for an agreed settlement
An illustration, not a forecast. A couple agree the money, including a police pension share. The application is issued on 2 November 2026 and the officer asks for the CETV the same day, saying it is for divorce proceedings. We assume the court approves their consent order three weeks after the conditional order and that they apply for the final order on the earliest day.
| Step | Date in the illustration | How it is worked out |
|---|---|---|
| Application issued | 2 November 2026 | Chosen for the illustration |
| CETV due (asked for the same day, for divorce proceedings) | 14 December 2026 | Application date + 6 weeks |
| Earliest conditional order application | 22 March 2027 | Application date + 20 weeks (140 days) |
| Consent order approved (assumed) | 12 April 2027 | Assumed 3 weeks after the conditional order; court processing times vary |
| Earliest final order | 4 May 2027 | Conditional order + 43 days (6 weeks and 1 day) |
| End of appeal time + 7 days | 10 May 2027 | Consent order + 21 days to appeal + 7 days |
| Pension sharing order takes effect | 10 May 2027 | The later of the two dates above (final order made on the earliest date) |
| Scheme's 4 months end | 10 September 2027 | Takes effect + 4 months, if the scheme already has the order, information and charge |
From application to the end of the scheme's 4 months is 312 days, about 10 months, and that assumes nothing slips. The 4 months only start once the scheme has the order, the information it needs and, in practice, its charge: SPPA says it will not start the period until its charge is paid. The pension sharing order itself takes effect on 10 May 2027, the later of the final order and the end of the appeal time plus 7 days.
Contested cases do not have a predictable timeline. GOV.UK says the first appointment is usually 12 to 14 weeks after Form A, that there may be more than one FDR, and that several months can pass between appointments.
The money steps: agreed or contested
Divorce ends the marriage; it does not end financial claims. A financial order does that. There are two routes and most of the steps overlap.
| Step | Agreed route (consent order) | Contested route (court decides) |
|---|---|---|
| Mediation information meeting (MIAM) | Not one of the steps GOV.UK lists for a consent order | GOV.UK says you must attend one before applying, except in certain cases |
| Disclosure | Exchange figures voluntarily; Form E is a good template | Form E from both of you, exchanged not less than 35 days before the first appointment (FPR r.9.14) |
| Pension value | Divorce CETV from the scheme: 6 weeks if you say it is for divorce proceedings | The member must ask within 7 days of being told the first appointment date, and copy it to the other party within 7 days of receipt (FPR r.9.30) |
| Pension inquiry (Form P) | The member asks the scheme for the Form P section C information (FPR r.9.32) | The court can direct Form P at the first appointment (FPR r.9.15) |
| Negotiation | Directly, through solicitors, mediation or arbitration | First appointment (usually 12 to 14 weeks after applying), then a financial dispute resolution (FDR) appointment to try to settle |
| The order | Draft consent order, Form D81 statement of information, pension sharing annex (Form P1) or attachment annex (P2). Fee £62. Not before the conditional order | If no settlement at FDR, a final hearing where a judge decides. Form A fee £321 |
| After the order | Order and annex sent to the scheme within 7 days of the order or final order, whichever is later (FPR r.9.36) | Same |
- MIAM. GOV.UK says you must attend a meeting about mediation before applying to court to decide the money, except in certain cases. The government's mediation voucher (up to £500) is for disputes about children; money issues qualify only alongside a child dispute.
- Disclosure. Full and frank, on both sides. Our Form E for police officers guide covers overtime, allowances and the pension section.
- The pension value and Form P. See the pension steps below.
- Negotiation. Directly, through solicitors, through mediation, or at the FDR in a contested case. Compare sharing, offsetting and attachment in offsetting vs sharing.
- Consent order. The draft order, Form D81 from both of you, and the pension annex (P1 or P2), with the £62 fee. The court cannot approve it before the conditional order.
- Contested route. Form A (£321), Form E exchanged 35 days before the first appointment, the first appointment to define the issues, the FDR for "discussion and negotiation", and a final hearing if you still cannot agree.
Our free divorce budget calculator shows take-home pay after maintenance and what you could borrow alone. The Police Divorce Pack (£59.99) combines the Police Divorce Pension Report (£49.99 on its own), the Police Separation Money Plan (£19.99 on its own) and the Pension Command Centre: your own estimates, not legal advice or a court valuation.
If you cannot agree: the contested route step by step
A contested financial application follows a set sequence under Part 9 of the Family Procedure Rules 2010. The court sets the dates, so nobody can promise how long it will take, but the order of events is fixed.
| Stage | What it is for | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Form A application | Starts the court process. Fee £321. A MIAM first unless an exemption applies | Proof of MIAM attendance or the exemption |
| Form E exchange | Both of you exchange at the same time, not less than 35 days before the first appointment (r.9.14) | Form E with the documents it lists, including the pension CE |
| Statement of issues, chronology, questionnaire | Filed and served not less than 14 days before the first appointment, with a notice saying whether you could treat the first appointment as an FDR (r.9.14(5)) | The questionnaire is where you ask for missing documents, such as 12 months of payslips |
| First appointment | Usually 12 to 14 weeks after applying (GOV.UK). Conducted "with the objective of defining the issues and saving costs" (r.9.15); the court can direct a Pension Inquiry Form and expert evidence | Pension information requested within 7 days of being told the date (r.9.30) |
| Financial dispute resolution (FDR) | Treated as "a meeting held for the purposes of discussion and negotiation"; "Parties attending the FDR appointment must use their best endeavours to reach agreement" (r.9.17). There may be more than one | Offers, any pension on divorce expert report, an up-to-date CETV |
| Final hearing | If there is still no agreement, a judge decides | Evidence and statements as directed |
| Order with pension annex | Sent to the scheme within 7 days of the order or the final order, whichever is later (r.9.36) | P1 or P2 for each pension arrangement |
Police cases often turn on two questions at the FDR: how to treat variable overtime when looking at income and maintenance, and what a fair pension share is when equal division of the cash equivalent can give unexpected results for a uniformed service scheme. Both are easier to negotiate with evidence: 12 months of payslips for the first, and for the second an up-to-date CETV and, often, a pension on divorce expert's report. See do you need a pension on divorce expert? and spousal maintenance on police pay.
The police pension steps, in order, with their time limits
The police pension is often the largest asset in the marriage, and its steps have legal deadlines that run alongside the divorce. In order:
| Order | Pension step | Time limit or rule | Who acts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ask the scheme for a divorce cash equivalent (CETV), saying it is for divorce proceedings | 6 weeks (otherwise 3 months), or sooner if the court says; free if none provided in the previous 12 months (active and deferred members) | Officer (member) |
| 2 | Check the date and basis: after 19 May 2026 (SCAPE change) and with McCloud remedy service valued as the greater of legacy and reformed | Pre-19 May 2026 values were on the old factors | Officer, then both |
| 3 | Form P: valuation basis, benefits for a former partner, charges, death benefits | Section C due within 21 days of notification; the valuation used must be no more than 12 months old at the first appointment | Officer signs; scheme answers |
| 4 | Decide whether a pension on divorce expert report is needed | Commonly advised for uniformed service pensions (Pension Advisory Group) | Both, through solicitors |
| 5 | Agree or decide: sharing, offsetting or attachment | Sharing order is a percentage of the whole CETV in England and Wales | Both, or the court |
| 6 | Order with Form P1 (sharing) or P2 (attachment), one annex per arrangement | Consent order not before the conditional order | Court |
| 7 | Order and annex sent to the scheme | Within 7 days of the order or the final order, whichever is later | Court or a party |
| 8 | Pay the scheme's implementation charge | The 4 months may not start until charges are paid; Met (2023 schedule) £4,070 for active or deferred members; SPPA £4,320 standard from April 2026 | As the order says |
| 9 | Final order made | A pension sharing order cannot take effect before it | Applicant |
| 10 | Order takes effect | Not earlier than 7 days after the time for appealing ends (21 days after the decision by default) | Automatic |
| 11 | Scheme implements the share: pension debit for the officer, credit for the partner | Within 4 months of the later of the order taking effect and the scheme receiving the documents and information | Scheme |
| 12 | Check the implementation letters and the new benefit statement | Query anything at once | Both |
Three points sit behind the table. First, the pension debit is fixed on the pension built up to the day the order takes effect, and then rises with inflation and is adjusted for when the officer actually retires. Second, in England and Wales the share is a percentage of the whole cash equivalent, not just the part built up in the marriage. Third, the partner's pension credit stays in the police scheme: it cannot be transferred out, carries no survivor's pension and is paid at 60 (1987 scheme), 65 (2006 scheme) or State Pension age (2015 scheme, or from 55 with a reduction). The mechanics are in the settlement guide and, for the 2015 to 2022 remedy period, the McCloud remedy and divorce guide.
Getting the CETV is usually free. Implementing a share is not: the Met's published schedule (2023 version, uprated each April) shows £4,070 for an active or deferred member and £3,600 for a pensioner, payable up front; SPPA charges £4,320 including VAT for a standard case from April 2026. Agree in the order who pays it, and pay promptly: unpaid charges can delay the start of the scheme's 4 months.
What a pension share means for each of you, by scheme
The timeline ends with the scheme putting the share into effect. What each of you then has depends on the scheme the shared benefits came from. Most of the difference is on the partner's side.
| 1987 scheme | 2006 scheme | 2015 scheme | |
|---|---|---|---|
| When the partner's credit is paid | From 60 (or from the date the order takes effect, if later) | From 65 | From State Pension age; can be claimed from 55 with an early payment reduction |
| Lump sum for the partner | Optional commutation of up to a quarter, capped at 2.25 times the annual pension | Automatic lump sum of 4 times the annual pension at 65 (not if the share came from a pension already in payment) | Optional commutation at £12 for each £1 of pension given up |
| Transfer out | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Survivor's pension on the credit | None | None | None |
| Effect on the officer's lump sum | Indirect: commutation is based on the pension after the debit | Direct: a separate lump sum debit | Indirect: commutation is based on the pension after the debit |
| Death grant and children's pensions | Not reduced by the debit | Not reduced by the debit | Not reduced by the debit |
Sources: the police pension regulations for each scheme and the Government Actuary's Department's pension sharing guidance notes for each scheme. The partner's credit is paid for life and is increased each year in line with inflation before and after it starts; it does not depend on when the officer retires or whether the officer is alive. The officer's debit is fixed on the pension built up to the day the order takes effect, increased with inflation, and then adjusted for when the officer actually retires. To see the numbers on your own figures, use the police pension divorce calculator.
If the officer has already retired
The steps are the same, but three things change.
- The valuation can be charged for. The free valuation rule applies to members entitled to a cash equivalent; a pensioner gets a "pensioner cash equivalent", which the scheme can charge for. The Met's 2023 schedule shows £1,360 for one.
- The cut is immediate. When a share of a pension in payment is implemented, the debit applies to the pension straight away. SPPA says the pension continues at the full rate until the share is implemented, then the reduction is backdated to the implementation date and the overpayment recovered.
- There can be an income gap. A 1987 scheme credit is not paid until the partner is 60, so a share can reduce the officer's pension now while the partner waits years for theirs. The Pension Advisory Group's guide flags this.
More detail, including the lump sum already taken, is in divorce after police retirement.
The final order trap: why the order of events matters
The final order is the step most likely to be taken too early. GOV.UK says that for a legally binding arrangement on money and property you must apply to the court for it before you apply for a final order, and that applying later "may" have financial consequences, "particularly for pensions".
- Survivor rights end. Until the final order the partner is still a spouse or civil partner, with the survivor's pension and death grant rights that go with it. After it, they are a former spouse. The Pension Advisory Group's guide warns against applying for the final order too early for exactly this reason: survivor rights are lost before the pension share is in place.
- The pension share cannot start anyway. A pension sharing order cannot take effect until the divorce is final (MCA 1973 s.24B(2)), so there is nothing to gain for the pension by racing ahead.
- Do not leave it forever either. GOV.UK says you should apply within 12 months of the conditional order or explain the delay, and in a sole application the respondent can apply after an extra 3 months on top of the 43 days.
The usual sequence is: conditional order, consent order approved, then final order. If one of you wants to remarry soon or the other is delaying, take advice before acting. The survivor benefit position is explained in death in service and divorce.
Police practical items: death grant, nominations, insurance and your will
These are the jobs that do not appear on a court form but matter a great deal if something happens during or after the divorce.
| Item | What the rules say | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Death grant (2015 and 2006 schemes) | Paid to a surviving spouse or civil partner (unless judicially separated and not supported); only if there is none can it go, at the scheme's discretion, to a surviving partner, then a nominee, then your estate (2015 reg 156; 2006 regs 46 and 47) | Until the final order, your estranged spouse is normally still first in line whatever your nomination says. After the final order, update your nomination |
| Death grant and the pension debit | A pension sharing order does not reduce the death-in-service lump sum grant | Check the death benefits section of Form P for your scheme |
| Survivor's pension | No spouse's pension is payable to the former spouse from a scheme that has implemented a sharing order; a later spouse's survivor pension is reduced by a separate survivor debit | Read death in service and divorce; plan any new cover for the children |
| Your will | When the marriage is dissolved, gifts to the former spouse pass as if they had died on that date, and their appointment as executor falls away, unless the will says otherwise (Wills Act 1837 s.18A). Separation alone does not do this | Review the will at separation, not only after the final order |
| Federation group insurance and other life cover | Branch schemes have their own rules for who receives the payout; we have not reviewed them | Ask your branch for the scheme's beneficiary or nomination form and how it treats a spouse during separation |
| Pension nomination for a partner | In the 2015 scheme, an unmarried partner can qualify for a survivor's pension if the conditions in reg 135 are met (cohabitation and financial dependence or interdependence, normally for at least 2 years) | If you move in with a new partner, read cohabitation and police pensions |
During separation, before the final order. In the 2015 and 2006 schemes your spouse or civil partner remains first in line for the death grant unless you are judicially separated and not supporting them. Your nomination only operates where there is no spouse, civil partner or qualifying partner. If you want to change what would happen in that period, take advice on your will and on any life cover you own; the pension scheme rules themselves cannot be overridden by a nomination.
After the final order. Update the death grant nomination with your administrator, the beneficiaries on any Federation group insurance and private life cover, and your will. If children are now the people you want to protect, see our survivor pension calculator for what children's pensions would pay; children's pensions are not reduced by a pension debit.
The 1987 scheme. The death grant rules above are from the 2015 and 2006 regulations. The 1987 scheme has its own provisions, which we have not set out here; ask your administrator how they apply to you.
Telling the force: vetting, payroll and HR
Separating is a private matter, but some changes have to be reported. The most important is vetting.
The College of Policing's Vetting APP (May 2025, paragraph 3.8.4) says changes in a vetting clearance holder's personal circumstances "must be reported to the appropriate vetting authority as soon as possible". Its list includes a change of partner, marital status or civil partnership; a change of name, address or co-residents; significant financial changes (for example a county court judgment or a debt management plan); and being the subject of civil proceedings or protective measures such as a non-molestation order or an occupation order. Paragraph 3.8.6 says failing to disclose relevant information may lead to a misconduct referral. Information is handled in confidence but may be shared with professional standards, HR or occupational health where necessary (3.8.5). Use your force's change of circumstances form or process.
| Who | What to tell them | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Force vetting unit | Change of partner, marital status or civil partnership; change of name, address or co-residents; significant financial changes such as a county court judgment or debt management plan; any civil proceedings or protective order (for example a non-molestation or occupation order) | The College of Policing Vetting APP (May 2025, 3.8.4) says changes in a clearance holder's personal circumstances must be reported as soon as possible, and failing to disclose can lead to a misconduct referral (3.8.6). Your force's own policy and form apply |
| HR and payroll | New address; new bank account for pay; emergency contacts and next of kin | So pay and letters reach you and the right person is called in an emergency |
| Pension administrator | New address; death grant nomination after the final order; that a divorce CETV is requested for divorce proceedings | Nominations only matter where there is no spouse; the 6-week limit depends on saying it is for divorce |
| Federation branch (members) | Group insurance beneficiary; whether you want to use the branch's family law arrangement | Branch schemes and offers differ |
| Line manager or welfare | Only as much as you choose, if you need flexibility with shifts or support | Not a legal requirement; support is available |
A new partner moving in is also a change to report, and their details may be checked as a notifiable association or co-resident. See associates checks explained and police vetting levels. If money becomes tight during separation, our police debt and money pressure guide covers debt help; the vetting APP treats some financial changes as reportable, so get advice early rather than late.
The full police divorce checklist, phase by phase
Tick off as you go. The officer column is for the police officer; the partner column is for the spouse or civil partner. Where both of you are officers, both columns apply to each of you: see when both of you are police officers.
| Phase | Task | Officer | Partner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Separation | Get support: force EAP or welfare, Federation, GP if needed | ☐ | ☐ |
| Separation | Agree, in writing if you can, who lives where, who pays which bills and the interim arrangements for the children | ☐ | ☐ |
| Separation | Copy key documents: payslips, P60s, bank statements, mortgage, pension statements, marriage certificate | ☐ | ☐ |
| Separation | Report the change of circumstances to your vetting unit | ☐ | Only if police staff or officer too |
| Separation | Review your will (separation alone does not change it) | ☐ | ☐ |
| Separation | Find out who the pension administrator is | ☐ | ☐ (ask) |
| Pension | Request the divorce CETV, saying it is for divorce proceedings; diary the 6-week date | ☐ | |
| Pension | Check the CETV date (after 19 May 2026) and McCloud basis; ask for a split by scheme | ☐ | ☐ |
| Pension | Get Form P answers and the scheme's charges schedule | ☐ | ☐ (via solicitor) |
| Pension | Decide whether to instruct a pension on divorce expert | ☐ | ☐ |
| Divorce | Decide sole or joint application; apply (fee £628) | ☐ | ☐ |
| Divorce | Respond to the acknowledgement of service within 14 days (sole application) | If respondent | If respondent |
| Divorce | Diary the 20-week date; apply for the conditional order | ☐ | ☐ |
| Money | Exchange full disclosure (Form E or equivalent), with 12 months of overtime and allowances | ☐ | ☐ |
| Money | Mediation information meeting if you may go to court; mediation voucher only if there is also a child dispute | ☐ | ☐ |
| Money | Agree terms: house, savings, debts, pension share or offset, maintenance | ☐ | ☐ |
| Money | Consent order, D81 and P1/P2 filed after the conditional order (fee £62), or Form A if you cannot agree (fee £321) | ☐ | ☐ |
| Children | Parenting plan around the roster; child maintenance agreed or through the CMS | ☐ | ☐ |
| Final | Do not apply for the final order until the financial order is made (survivor rights) | ☐ | ☐ |
| Final | Apply for the final order: at least 43 days after the conditional order, within 12 months | ☐ | ☐ |
| After | Pay the scheme charge as ordered; check the implementation letters within the 4 months | ☐ | ☐ |
| After | Update death grant nomination, insurance beneficiaries, will, HR next of kin | ☐ | ☐ |
| After | Get a new pension forecast after the debit (officer) or a credit statement (partner) | ☐ | ☐ |
Children's arrangements run alongside all of this. For contact around a shift pattern and how nights affect child maintenance, read child arrangements on police shifts.
For the partner: the steps that protect you
- Make sure the pension is valued. The officer requests the CETV; in a contested case the rules require them to copy it to you within 7 days of receiving it. If it does not arrive, your solicitor can ask the court for a direction.
- Know what you would receive. A pension credit stays in the police scheme and is paid at 60, 65 or State Pension age depending on the scheme. Read divorcing a police officer.
- Do not let the final order go through first. You keep spouse's survivor rights until the final order.
- Check the order before it is sealed. The P1 annex should name the right scheme, the right percentage and say who pays the charges.
- Diary the 4 months. Once the order has taken effect and the scheme has everything, it has 4 months. Ask for written confirmation of your credit and the age it is payable.
How long does a divorce take when there is a police pension?
There is no single answer, but the legal minimums give a floor, and the police pension adds its own time at the end.
- Divorce only: at least 183 days (20 weeks plus 6 weeks and 1 day), so about six months.
- Agreed money with a pension share: the consent order can be approved after the conditional order; the share takes effect after the final order and the appeal time plus 7 days; then up to 4 months for the scheme. In our illustration, about 10 months from application to the end of the scheme's 4 months.
- Contested money: longer. The first appointment is usually 12 to 14 weeks after Form A, then an FDR and perhaps a final hearing, with months between them. The pension steps then follow.
- What slows police cases: a CETV that predates the 19 May 2026 SCAPE change and has to be redone, McCloud remedy calculations, waiting for a pension on divorce expert's report, and unpaid scheme charges.
Every legal time limit in one table
For your diary. These are the time limits set by the legislation, the court rules and GOV.UK's guidance that apply to a police divorce in England and Wales with a pension share. The court can change some of them in a particular case, and a scheme or court may set a shorter one.
| Time limit | Runs from | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 14 days | Respondent receives a sole divorce application | Respond to the acknowledgement of service (GOV.UK) |
| 20 weeks | The court issues the divorce application | Earliest conditional order application (MCA 1973 s.1(5)) |
| 43 days (6 weeks and 1 day) | The conditional order | Earliest final order (GOV.UK; MCA 1973 s.1) |
| 12 months | The conditional order | Apply for the final order within this or explain the delay (GOV.UK) |
| 3 extra months | After the 43 days, in a sole case | Before the respondent can apply for the final order (GOV.UK) |
| 6 weeks | Request for a CE, if the scheme is told it is for divorce proceedings | Scheme provides the valuation (SI 2000/1048 reg 2) |
| 3 months | Request for a CE otherwise | Scheme provides the valuation (SI 2000/1048 reg 2) |
| 1 month | Request for other pension information | Scheme provides it (SI 2000/1048 reg 2) |
| 12 months | The previous CE provided | A further CE within this period can be charged for (SI 2000/1049 reg 3) |
| 12 months | Before the first appointment | Maximum age of the valuation used (Form P) |
| 21 days | Scheme notified a sharing order may be made | Form P section C information (SI 2000/1048 reg 4, as printed on Form P) |
| 7 days | Being told the first appointment date | Member requests pension information (FPR r.9.30(2)) |
| 7 days | Receiving the pension information | Member sends a copy to the other party (FPR r.9.30(3)) |
| 35 days | Before the first appointment | Latest date to exchange Form E (FPR r.9.14(1)) |
| 14 days | Before the first appointment | Statement of issues, chronology, questionnaire and FDR notice (FPR r.9.14(5)) |
| 21 days | The decision | Default time to file an appeal (FPR r.30.4) |
| 7 days | End of the appeal time | Earliest a pension sharing order can take effect, and not before the final order (SI 2000/1123 reg 9; MCA s.24B) |
| 7 days | The order or the final order, whichever is later | Order and pension annex sent to the scheme (FPR r.9.36) |
| 4 months | Later of the order taking effect and the scheme receiving everything | Scheme implements the share (WRPA 1999 s.34) |
The planner at the top of this page puts the key dates for your own case into one list. Neither the planner nor this table can tell you when a court will list a hearing or approve an order; those depend on the court.
Who can help at each stage
Myths about the police divorce timeline
What we could not verify
- Court processing times. The waits above are legal minimums; we found no official average for consent orders.
- 1987 scheme death grant rules during separation. Not set out here; ask your administrator.
- Federation group insurance beneficiary rules. Each branch scheme has its own; ask your branch.
- Each force's vetting change of circumstances form and deadline. The APP says "as soon as possible"; your force sets the process.
- The Met's 2026 charges. We read the 2023 schedule.
- The commencement date of the 2026 court fee changes. We give the fees GOV.UK showed on 19 October 2026.
PolicePay is not a law firm or financial adviser and this checklist is general information. The enquiry form below sends your details to PolicePay (Andrew Thomas). For the arrangements Federation branches publish, see Federation family law offers, and for choosing a solicitor see police divorce solicitors.
Free: the police divorce checklist (PDF)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a divorce take in the UK if one of us is a police officer?
The divorce itself takes at least 20 weeks to the conditional order and a further 6 weeks and 1 day to the final order: 183 days, about six months. A police pension share then needs the final order and up to 4 months for the scheme to implement it. In our illustration with an agreed settlement, application to implementation takes about 10 months. Contested cases take longer.
What is the first thing to do when a police marriage breaks down?
Get support, keep copies of financial documents, agree interim arrangements for the children and bills if you can, and ask the pension administrator for a divorce cash equivalent, saying it is for divorce proceedings so the 6-week limit applies. Officers should also report the change of circumstances to their force vetting unit.
Can we get divorced without blaming each other?
Yes. Since 6 April 2022 in England and Wales, a statement that the marriage has broken down irretrievably is conclusive evidence of it (Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 s.1(2) as amended by the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020). You can apply jointly or one of you can apply alone. Civil partnerships are dissolved the same way.
How much does a police divorce cost in court fees?
GOV.UK lists £628 to apply for a divorce, £62 for a consent order and £321 to apply for a financial order on Form A. Help with fees may be available. On top of court fees, police pension schemes charge to implement a pension share: the Met's 2023 schedule shows £4,070 for an active or deferred member, and SPPA's standard charge from April 2026 is £4,320.
Should I apply for the final order before the financial order?
Generally not when there is a police pension. GOV.UK says to apply to the court for the financial order before you apply for the final order. Once the final order is made the former spouse is no longer a spouse for survivor benefits, and a pension sharing order cannot take effect until the final order anyway. Take advice before applying.
When does a police pension sharing order take effect?
Not before the final order (Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 s.24B(2)), and not earlier than 7 days after the end of the time for appealing (Divorce etc. (Pensions) Regulations 2000 reg 9). The default time to appeal is 21 days after the decision. The scheme then has 4 months to implement it from the later of that date and receiving the documents and information.
How long does a police pension CETV take?
Three months from the request, or 6 weeks if you tell the scheme when you ask that it is needed for divorce proceedings, or a shorter time set by the court. One divorce valuation in any 12 months is free for active and deferred members.
Does my ex get my police death grant if I die before the divorce is final?
In the 2015 and 2006 schemes the death grant goes to a surviving spouse or civil partner unless you are judicially separated and not supporting them; only if there is none does it go to a partner, nominee or your estate. So during separation your spouse is normally still entitled, whatever your nomination says. The 1987 scheme has its own rules: ask your administrator.
Do police officers have to tell vetting about a divorce?
The College of Policing Vetting APP (May 2025) says a vetting clearance holder must report changes in personal circumstances as soon as possible, including a change of partner, marital status or civil partnership, a change of address or co-residents, significant financial changes and protective orders such as non-molestation orders. Use your force's own process.
Can I use the mediation voucher for a police pension dispute?
Only alongside a dispute about the children. GOV.UK's Family Mediation Voucher Scheme gives up to £500 towards mediation for child arrangement disputes; financial issues qualify only when they are part of a child dispute, and the voucher does not cover the MIAM.
What happens if we do not apply for the final order?
GOV.UK says the final order should be applied for within 12 months of the conditional order, otherwise you must explain the delay. In a sole application, if the applicant does not apply, the respondent can apply after waiting an extra 3 months on top of the 43 days.
Is the timeline the same in Scotland?
No. Scotland has its own divorce law and court procedure, and only the pension built up between the marriage and the relevant date (the earlier of separation and service of the summons) is matrimonial property. Scottish orders must reach SPPA within 2 months of the relevant date or they do not take effect, unless the court extends the time. See our Scotland guide.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 19 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, section 1 (as amended by the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020) : irretrievable breakdown statement; 20 weeks; 6 weeks to the final order (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, section 24B : a pension sharing order does not take effect until the divorce is made final (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Divorce etc. (Pensions) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000/1123), regulation 9 : not earlier than 7 days after the end of the time for appealing (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999, section 34 : 4 months to implement a share (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Pensions on Divorce etc. (Provision of Information) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000/1048), regulation 2 : 3 months, or 6 weeks for divorce proceedings (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Pensions on Divorce etc. (Charging) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000/1049), regulation 3 : one free valuation in 12 months (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Family Procedure Rules 2010, Part 9 : Form E exchange, first appointment, FDR, consent orders, pension rules 9.30 to 9.36 (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Family Procedure Rules 2010, Part 30, rule 30.4 : appellant's notice within 21 days of the decision unless the court directs otherwise (accessed 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Get a divorce (fee £628; what happens after you apply; finalise your divorce) : 14 days to respond; 20 weeks; 43 days; 12 months; financial order before the final order; respondent's extra 3 months (accessed 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Money and property when you divorce or separate (consent order £62; court decides £321) : D81; consent order not before the conditional order; Form A; first appointment 12 to 14 weeks (accessed 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: End a civil partnership : over a year; conditional and final orders (accessed 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Family Mediation Voucher Scheme : up to £500; child arrangement disputes only; MIAM not covered (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Pensions Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/445), regulations 135, 152 and 156 : surviving partner conditions; nomination; who receives the death grant (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Wills Act 1837, section 18A : effect of dissolution or annulment on a will (accessed 19 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Vetting authorised professional practice (May 2025, PDF) : 3.8.4 changes to report; 3.8.6 failure to disclose (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Metropolitan Police pensions on divorce or dissolution: schedule of charges v30 (2023) : charges paid up front; £4,070 implementation (2023 figures) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Scottish Public Pensions Agency: Pensions on Divorce, Police and Fire (1 April 2026) : implementation charges from April 2026; period starts when the charge is paid (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Government Actuary's Department: police pension sharing guidance notes (Factor Guidance Hub) : no spouse's pension to the former spouse; death grant not reduced by the debit (accessed 19 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
More in this guide series
Pension tools for after the settlement
Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent reference site. It is not a law firm or a financial adviser, is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, and this page is general information, not legal, financial or pension advice. Every divorce settlement depends on the facts, and pension sharing is decided by agreement or by a court. Figures from our calculators are estimates on stated assumptions: the scheme administrator's cash equivalent and the court order are what count. For decisions about your settlement, speak to a family solicitor and, where the pension is a large part of the money, a pension on divorce expert. Details apply to England and Wales unless stated. Details are as checked on 19 October 2026.