Assumption: "I can just instruct a pension expert (PODE) myself as a litigant in person."
1 min readThis content reflects observational insights and lived community experiences. It does not constitute legal advice — always consult a qualified professional for your specific circumstances.
What People Expect
People assume that because a PODE report is often needed to value pensions fairly, they can simply approach and pay a pension expert directly, in the same way they might instruct a surveyor.
Court Reality
Most PODEs will only accept a joint instruction, with an agreed letter of instruction, timescale and fee split. Many firms also refuse to act at all unless at least one party has a solicitor on record, because of the complexity of instructing jointly. A litigant in person can struggle to find a PODE willing to take the case on at all, which is worth knowing before relying on this route.
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The Gap?
"I can just instruct a pension expert (PODE) myself as a litigant in person."
Court Reality
Most PODEs will only accept a joint instruction, with an agreed letter of instruction, timescale and fee split. Many firms also refuse to act at all unless at least one party has a solicitor on record, because of the complexity of instructing jointly. A litigant in person can struggle to find a PODE willing to take the case on at all, which is worth knowing before relying on this route.
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