'Deathbed marriage' rise highlights need for reform

Analysis of government data by Eversheds Sutherland shows increase in last year

Jasmine Urquhart
clock • 4 min read
Eversheds Sutherland partner Emma King has called for a rethink of the rules on death benefits
Image:

Eversheds Sutherland partner Emma King has called for a rethink of the rules on death benefits

A rise in the number of ‘deathbed marriages’ over the last year highlights the need for pension rule reform, lawyers say.

Law firm Eversheds Sutherland analysed General Record Office (GRO data from Q3 of 2022 - finding there was a sharp increase in the number of so-called Registrar General Licences, from an average of...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Pensions

Become a Professional Pensions Lite Member today

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis and opinion from the industry
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our two daily news alerts
  • Hear from industry experts and other forward-thinking leaders

Are you a trustee, investment consultant or in-house pension and benefit scheme professional? You can apply for full complimentary access here

Join now

 

Already a Professional Pensions
member?

Login

Jasmine Urquhart
Author spotlight

Jasmine Urquhart

Senior Correspondent at Professional Pensions

More on Law and Regulation

DWP to change terminal illness definition for pension tax purposes

DWP to change terminal illness definition for pension tax purposes

Move will bring benefit and pension tax rules at end of life into closer alignment

Jonathan Stapleton
clock 15 October 2026 • 2 min read
Torsten Bell: Pensions industry must 'give ground' to what savers trust

Torsten Bell: Pensions industry must 'give ground' to what savers trust

Torsten Bell says what the industry is doing is a ‘triumph’, but there must be transparency

Holly Roach
clock 15 October 2026 • 1 min read
Jeannie Drake: Everyone must play their part in resolving adequacy challenge

Jeannie Drake: Everyone must play their part in resolving adequacy challenge

Pensions commissioner says resolving the challenge is not exclusively one party’s job

Holly Roach
clock 13 October 2026 • 1 min read
Trustpilot