Pension nomination forms should be updated after marriage

Financial journalist Martin Lewis issued a renewed warning on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, urging people to review a frequently overlooked pension rule, as their retirement savings could end up going to an ex-partner after death if paperwork is not updated.

Lewis made the caution in response to a question from a newlywed couple on his BBC podcast who asked which financial documents they should update after marriage. He stressed the importance of an "expression of wishes" or "nomination form" attached to workplace pension schemes. He explained that this document, which nominates a beneficiary to receive pension savings if the holder dies, is separate from a will and is often forgotten.

"If it's your ex-partner, your pension pot will go to them when you die even though you are no longer together," Lewis stated. The form is not legally binding on the pension provider, who will take the holder's wishes into account when making a decision on where the funds should go. For anyone who has remarried or entered a new civil partnership, checking and updating this form is therefore a critical step.

Lewis also told listeners that creating or updating a will is vital, as getting married or...