Tools · Free

Fair Split Calculator

Estimate how a UK court might divide your marital assets, based on the Section 25 factors judges actually use — not a naïve 50/50 split. Change any input to see the range update live.

Indicative only, not legal advice. England & Wales only. Complex cases (businesses, offshore assets, disability, conduct) need proper legal input.

The marital pot

Combined assets to be divided. Enter net values.

Income and earning capacity

Current income plus a realistic 2–3-year earning capacity — Section 25 requires both.

Marriage

Length matters — long marriages tilt toward equal sharing.

Children

Housing the children is the court's first concern.

Primary carer

Complications (optional)

Only tick if genuinely relevant.

Indicative split
Estimated fair range
Party AParty B
52%48%
Range: 43%–61% to Party A  · 39%–57% to Party B
Money translation
Marital pot after debts: £385,000
Party A
£165,550
to £234,850
Party B
£150,150
to £219,450
Why this range
  • Income disparity
    Party B has a lower income need than Party A (earning capacity £45,000). The gap in earning power justifies a larger share of the capital for Party B.
  • Children living primarily with Party A
    Housing the children takes priority. Courts routinely tilt toward the primary carer so the children stay housed, especially where the current pot is modest.
Formalise this split (£99)

A fair split only becomes legally binding through a court-sealed Consent Order.

Indicative only. Not a legal or actuarial calculation. Individual cases turn on their facts — especially where there are business assets, disability, conduct, or overseas property.

What courts actually consider

In England & Wales the starting point for financial settlement isn't a formula — it's Section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. It lists eight factors a judge must weigh, and needs come first (housing, income, children) before equal sharing.

Income and resources
Both current and future earning capacity of each party.
Financial needs
Housing, day-to-day living costs, obligations — including for the children.
Standard of living
The lifestyle enjoyed during the marriage is a benchmark.
Age and marriage length
Longer marriages presume equal sharing; shorter ones leave more room.
Physical or mental disability
Either party's health may adjust the settlement.
Contributions
Financial and non-financial contributions to the family (childcare, homemaking).
Conduct
Rarely relevant unless the conduct is so serious it would be inequitable to disregard.
Loss of benefit
e.g. pension rights that would be lost on divorce.

What this calculator cannot do

  • • Value a family business, professional practice or shares in a private company.
  • • Handle offshore assets, trusts, or beneficial interests.
  • • Account for a party's disability, health issue, or long-term care needs.
  • • Factor in conduct (only relevant in genuinely exceptional cases).
  • • Distinguish between defined-benefit and defined-contribution pensions — CETVs of the same value can be worth very different amounts on retirement.
  • • Apply Scottish or Northern Irish law — this covers England & Wales only.

For any of the above, get one-off legal advice before finalising. A £150–300 consultation with a family law solicitor is much cheaper than getting the split wrong.

Frequently asked

Why does the calculator ask for earning capacity as well as current income?+

Section 25(a) of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 requires courts to consider each party's income and earning capacity — what they could realistically earn in the foreseeable future. A parent who reduced hours to raise children has a lower current income but often a substantial earning capacity once the children are older. Courts don't lock either party into today's number.

Leave the earning-capacity field blank if it matches current income. Fill it in if either party is currently underemployed, on career break, or in a temporary income dip.

Is a UK divorce settlement always 50/50?+

No. 50/50 is a starting point in longer marriages, but it's frequently adjusted for housing needs, income disparity, or the presence of children living with one party. Very short marriages, non-marital contributions, and unmet needs can move the split well away from equal.

Do pensions count as part of the marital pot?+

Yes. Pensions are marital assets and are almost always included, valued using their Cash Equivalent Transfer Value (CETV). A CETV can understate a defined-benefit pension's real value — for large final-salary pensions, an actuary's report may be needed.

What if the family home was bought before the marriage?+

The pre-marriage contribution can be argued as non-matrimonial, especially in shorter marriages. In longer marriages the home is usually treated as matrimonial regardless, because the family has built its life around it.

How is a fair split enforced?+

A written agreement between spouses is not enforceable on its own. To bind the terms legally, both parties sign a Consent Order and file it with the court alongside Form D81 and a £62 fee. Once sealed by a judge, it's a court order — enforceable and permanent. See our Consent Order guide.

Does this calculator save my data?+

No. Everything runs in your browser. Nothing is saved, sent, or logged. Refresh the page and it's gone.

How does the tool decide the range?+

It starts at 50/50 and applies tilts based on the Section 25 factors: income disparity, children's primary carer, non-marital contributions, housing shortfall, marriage length. The range width reflects genuine judicial discretion — courts can and do reach different decisions on the same facts.

Turn an estimate into a court-sealed order

A fair split is only enforceable once a judge seals it. Consent Order Online drafts the legally worded Consent Order in Word format, with two free AI Assisted Reviews before you buy.

See Consent Order Online (£99)

Assisted DIY Divorce for England & Wales

© 2026 NovaColab Ltd. Company No. 17117292.
DivorceCompanion is a trading name of NovaColab Ltd.
England & Wales · Not legal advice

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DivorceCompanion provides general information and digital tools. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.

General information only · not legal advice · England & Wales · © 2026 NovaColab Ltd (Company No. 17117292) · DivorceCompanion is a trading name of NovaColab Ltd

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