France retirement pension sharing and survivor rights

Under French law, retirement pensions are strictly personal and cannot be shared between ex-spouses while they are still living. The rights acquired through professional contributions are considered inalienable, meaning no divorce agreement or judicial ruling can compel a retiree to transfer a portion of their pension to a former spouse.

Redistribution only occurs through the survivor's pension (pension de réversion) following the death of a spouse. To qualify, the claimant must have been legally married; civil unions (PACS) or cohabitation do not grant these rights. When a deceased individual had multiple marriages, the pension is typically distributed among surviving spouses pro rata based on the duration of each marriage.

Specific rules vary by pension scheme. For instance, in the Agirc-Arrco complementary scheme for private-sector employees, as well as in several professional schemes and the civil service, remarrying may result in the loss of the survivor's pension from a previous spouse.