Petitions/Exclude pre-marriage assets from divorce settlements in England and Wales
StatusClosed
Opened15 May 2025
Closes15 Nov 2025
Government response
Parliamentary debateNot eligible
Milestones

In Scotland generally only assets acquired from the date of marriage up to the date of separation are considered in divorce settlements. This is not the case in England and Wales, where a spouse can be granted rights to assets - such as pensions - acquired before marriage. We want this to change.

We believe it is unfair that people who are divorced in England and Wales, with financial assets acquired before their marriage, can be disadvantaged compared to people in Scotland when it comes to divorce settlements. We want pre-marriage assets to be excluded from divorce settlements in England and Wales, to mirror rules in Scotland.

10,000
100,000

Constituency engagement ranking

Kevin Bonavia
1Kevin Bonavia MP
Stevenage
3
Tom Gordon
2Tom Gordon MP
Harrogate and Knaresborough
2
Simon Hoare
3Simon Hoare MP
North Dorset
2
Dr Ellie Chowns
4Dr Ellie Chowns MP
North Herefordshire
2
Neil Duncan-Jordan
5Neil Duncan-Jordan MP
Poole
2
Ben Lake
6Ben Lake MP
Ceredigion Preseli
2
Alison Griffiths
7Alison Griffiths MP
Bognor Regis and Littlehampton
1
Alex Burghart
8Alex Burghart MP
Brentwood and Ongar
1
Charlie Dewhirst
9Charlie Dewhirst MP
Bridlington and The Wolds
1
Martin Vickers
10Martin Vickers MP
Brigg and Immingham
1
Exclude pre-marriage assets from divorce settlements in England and Wales — Petitions