Stage 3

Send in a draft or provisional letter of instruction stating the issues upon which you require settlement advice, the questions that you require to be answered and a copy of all pension documents (Cash Equivalent Values [CEVs] and benefit statements) for each pension which you require to be covered by a report. You should also advise at this stage whether any potential instruction is likely to be on a single or joint basis. A copy of sample draft letter of instruction is included below to help you here if required.

Draft Letter of Instruction

Stage 4

We will write back to you to confirm the issues to be covered in a report. We would also confirm the cost and expected timescale to prepare a report. We may also ask for some or all of the following forms to be completed.

• Letter of Authority (Wetherby) (separate copy to be completed by each party for each pension arrangement)
• Divorce Information Sheet (separate copy to be completed by each party)
• State Retirement Forecast form (BR19) (Needs to be completed by each party and returned to The Pension Service should you wish State Pensions to be included in the report). The form can be downloaded at www.direct.gov.uk. Alternatively a forecast can be applied for online at www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_189931
• Additional State Pension Valuation form (BR20) (Needs to be completed by each party and returned to the Pension Service should you wish State Pensions to be included in the report). The form can be downloaded at www.direct.gov.uk

Stage 5

If the case is to be a single instruction you need to check that your client is happy with the scope of the report, cost and timescale as outlined in the Actuaries for Lawyers’ letter. If the case is to be a joint instruction the above also needs to be agreed with the firm of solicitors acting for the other party. You then need to write back to Actuaries for Lawyers confirming that you wish to proceed with the preparation of a report as outlined above. On a joint instruction, this letter needs to be signed by both instructing parties.

Stage 6

On receipt of your confirmed instruction we will forward two copies of our “terms of engagement” to the instructing solicitor (or to both firms in the case of a joint instruction).

A sample copy of our terms of engagement is also enclosed below.
Terms of engagement

This can be downloaded but in this case as well as signing the form you must also complete the dates of
a) Your letter of instruction
b) Actuaries for Lawyers letter confirming fees and scope of the report in the relevant sections of these terms.

Stage 7

When you receive the “terms of engagement”, both copies need to be signed.

If you have received these terms directly from us then they will already be signed by Actuaries for Lawyers so you need to sign them also, keep a copy for yourself and return the other copy to us.

If you have downloaded these terms, then they will not yet be signed by Actuaries for Lawyers so you need to sign them, and send both copies back to us. We will then also sign both copies, retain one and return the other copy back to you.

Stage 8

Once signed terms of engagement have been received, we will commence any further data collection needed for the report to be prepared. The report will then be completed and sent to the instructing parties in due course.

Your case should be sent to the Actuaries for Lawyers’ West Yorkshire Office.

Postal Address
24 Victoria Street
Wetherby
West Yorkshire
LS22 6RE

Phone Number: 01937 582041

Email Address: paul.windle@actuariesforlawyers.com