Form P: pension inquiry form explained

Form P is the pension inquiry form: you send it to a pension provider to get the information needed before a court can make a pension sharing or attachment order. It asks for the cash equivalent value and how the scheme handles sharing. There is no court fee, though some providers charge. The scheme member signs it.

Official name: Pension inquiry form: information needed when a pension sharing order or pension attachment order may be made
Court fee: None. Some pension providers charge for information; Form P asks them to say so.
Online or paper: Paper, sent to the pension provider
Who fills it in: The scheme member completes Part A; the provider completes Parts B and C
When: As soon as a pension order is possible, and within 7 days of being told the first appointment date in a court case
Current version: Form P (04.11)
Where it goes: To the pension provider, not the court

Correct at 20 October 2026. Fees from GOV.UK, Family court fees (EX50).

How do you fill in Form P?

Form P is mostly for the pension provider to complete. Your part is short, but it’s what authorises them to release the information.

Part A: the scheme member

The person with the pension gives their name, address and reference number, their solicitor’s details if they have one, and where the completed form should be returned. They must sign it. The form says this signature is what authorises the provider to release the information, unless a court order requiring it is attached.

Part B: valuation and options

The provider confirms the cash equivalent value (CEV) and how it was calculated, which benefits it covers, whether the other spouse could join the scheme after a pension share, and its charges for providing information and carrying out an order.

Part C: details for a pension sharing order

The provider gives the exact name and address to put in the order, whether an occupational scheme is winding up or would reduce the value, whether the pension is already subject to another order, any rights that can’t be shared, extra charges, and whether it needs health or other information before it can carry out a share.

An optional Part D, completed if the member asks or the court orders it, covers the maximum lump sum at retirement, the earliest date benefits can be taken, death and spouse’s benefits, and whether the pension is already being paid.

What are the common mistakes on Form P?

Sending it to the court rather than the pension provider.
The member forgetting to sign Part A, so the provider won’t release anything.
Leaving it too late. Providers can take up to 3 months for a valuation.
Relying on a CEV more than 12 months old by the first appointment.
Forgetting smaller or older pensions from previous jobs.

What happens after you send Form P?

The form explains the time limits. A provider has 3 months to give a cash equivalent value, or 6 weeks if told it’s needed for divorce proceedings, or a shorter time set by the court. The Part C information is due within 21 days of being told a pension sharing order may be made.

In a court case, the person with the pension must request the valuation within 7 days of being told the first appointment date, and send a copy to the other side within 7 days of receiving it (Family Procedure Rules, rule 9.30). The answers then feed into Form E or D81 and the pension annex, P1 or P2.

Where do you get Form P?

Download Form P from GOV.UK and send it to each pension provider. For a pension now paid by the Pension Protection Fund, there is a separate Form PPF and matching annexes, PPF1 and PPF2, also on GOV.UK.

Open Form P on GOV.UK

We explain forms but never host them, so you always download the current version from GOV.UK.

When should you get help with Form P?

A pension’s CEV can be a poor guide to what it’s worth, particularly for defined benefit and public sector schemes. If pensions are a large part of what you’re dividing, ask a family solicitor whether you need a pension on divorce expert report, and a financial adviser to explain the options.

Get help with Form P

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Common questions

Who fills in Form P?

The person with the pension completes and signs Part A. The pension provider completes Parts B and C and returns it.

How long does a pension provider have to reply?

Three months for a cash equivalent value, or 6 weeks if told it is needed for divorce proceedings, unless the court sets a shorter time. The pension sharing details in Part C are due within 21 days.

Does Form P cost anything?

There is no court fee. Some pension providers charge for providing information, and the form asks them to set out their charges.

What if the pension is with the Pension Protection Fund?

Use Form PPF instead, with the PPF1 or PPF2 annex for the order. They are on GOV.UK.

Sources

Guides and tools

This page is general information about court forms, not legal or financial advice. Forms, fees and rules change, so always download the current form from GOV.UK and speak to a qualified professional about your situation. Facts checked 20 October 2026.

Form P: getting pension information for a divorce