Dividing your Pension (Separation or Divorce)

The pension benefits you have acquired during the course of your marriage or during the period of cohabitation in a relationship of a conjugal nature may be divided according to the terms of the Pension Benefits Division Act (the Act) if your marriage or relationship of a conjugal nature breaks down.

Formal Request
You, your spouse or the person with whom you were cohabitating in a relationship of a conjugal nature or a third party must make a formal application and submit a court order or a written agreement between the parties providing for the division of benefits.

Pension Benefits Division
If the division is approved, a lump sum representing the share of the value of the benefits being divided will be transferred either to a locked-in registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) chosen by the party receiving the value, or to a life insurance company to purchase a life annuity.

Supplementary Information:
For a general description of the Act and its regulations, consult the following documents:

The Pension Benefits Division Act - Description - 1997

The Pension Benefits Division Act - Program Overview - 1994-09

Consult the Information Kit for further information on the sharing process and conditions of eligibility.

You may also contact your compensation advisor.