Actuarial reports are often essential tools in divorce and dissolutions, but the perception is that they can take a while to produce. Little wonder then that family lawyers sometimes seek alternative and occasionally inappropriate solutions.

How quickly a report will be delivered is often the first question asked when a report is commissioned. Unfortunately, obtaining information from the pension schemes takes up most of the time. Turnaround standards and the quality of responses vary significantly between schemes.

Although we already have details of many schemes, or can quickly source them on the internet, certain issues still require direct contact. The main ones are obtaining the method and factors used in pension sharing calculations, and validating personal details, particularly in relation to part-time working and transfers received from other schemes.

Where an individual is in poor health, the impact assessment can usually be made from the information the person provides. Occasionally, it is necessary to obtain reports from their GP’s medical records, which generally takes three to four weeks.

So how can you speed up your reports? 

If you can provide full recent CETV and membership statements for each pension these often contain sufficient detail for us to start work straight away. Some schemes, including may state schemes, automatically refer benefit requests back to the member. Faxed or posted signed client authority forms are still essential to query any specific issues or to obtain the pension sharing details we need. Instruct early, so that if there are delays, they do not create problems.

But how can you get reports in just two weeks? 

There are two requirements,

• all the scheme factors being on record, as is the case for the public sector schemes and some others
• you supplying the necessary information

To receive a pdf with the information required for public sector scheme cases, email us at requirement-table@pensionrelief.com or fill out this short form.