One in five (19 per cent) divorcees regretted how their pension was handled during the divorce process, rising to 28 per cent of women, but only 9 per cent of men, according to research by Standard Life.

According to the analysis, over a quarter (27 per cent) of married people or those in civil partnerships with a private pension admit they do not know what would happen to it in the event of a divorce, rising to 30 per cent of women, while almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of couples had never discussed what would happen to their pension if they separated.

Previous research by the Standard Life Centre for the Future of Retirement showed that events such as motherhood, childcare, menopause and caring responsibilities could disproportionately affect women’s earnings and pension contributions over time.

For example, by middle age, when care responsibilities fell to one in four women in the UK, men were paying almost £80 more per month into their pension than women.

Discussing the findings, Standard Life retirement savings director, Mike Ambery, said that while people do not expect their long-term plans to change, “divorce is one of those moments that can reshape financial futures in ways that people may not have planned for”.

He continued: “When going through separation, it’s completely understandable that pensions aren’t always front of mind, particularly when there are more immediate pressures like housing, childcare or legal arrangements.

“However, pensions are often one of the most valuable assets built up over a lifetime – and decisions made at this point can quietly shape financial security for decades to come."

He added that it was striking how few couples were having conversations about the implications of divorce on retirement savings at all.

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