A CDFA® vs an Attorney: FAQ's

FAQ's and Our Role in a Divorce:

A CDFA® is Neutral:

As a As a 3rd party, we hope to give each of you opportunities to speak in a non-adversarial manner to reach cooperative solutions.

We’re not fighting for one side or the other. We’re present to share financial expertise so you can make fair and informed financial decisions.

A CDFA® is an Advisor, not Legal Representation:

A CDFA offers financial clarity at a fixed-rate for divorcing couples that want a more peaceful process. We don't make any decisions on your behalf.

Both sides must agree on final decisions about the division of property.

A CDFA® Focuses Only on the Financial Split:

We help you split your assets fairly and decide if and how much one side needs to pay the other in terms of alimony or child support.

We help determine the tax ramifications of dividing different assets.

We don’t advise on child custody.

With a CDFA®, You Control the Timeline:

The divorce process gets dragged out when you choose to litigate in court.

With a CDFA, you meet with us and progress at your own pace.

Fixed Rate Rather than Hourly Billing:

Once we know the scope and complexity upfront, we will provide an upfront final cost.

Divorce attorneys typically charge by the hour. This adds stress and hurries an important process.

Most Often, a CDFA® Is Present without Lawyers

Typically, we work with divorcing couples that do not have legal representation. We can reach a fair and equitable financial split without attorneys present. We provide administrative help to prepare an agreement that is ready for a judge to sign.

Even with Lawyers, a CDFA® Can Be a Neutral Expert on the Financial Implications.

Occasionally a CDFA® is brought into a divorce with attorneys already present. This can be helpful to provide 3rd party financial expertise so all parties can mutually understand the financial implications of the divorce agreement.

A CDFA can also reduce your reliance on a lawyer if you rely on a lawyer for administrative help and use a CDFA for divorce planning.

This limits the expensive hours you would spend with an attorney and brings them in only when they're needed.

Divorce is an administrative process that we help clients navigate smoothly.

For an amicable divorce, there are essentially three administrative steps, each with paperwork and required timelines.

Filing for Divorce

Filing for divorce starts the legal process.

You can fill out the paperwork with help from a courthouse facilitator, or hire a lawyer or business that specializes in filing divorce paperwork.

To learn more about what’s required of you, visit

Preparing a Divorce Settlement Agreement

We will work with you to complete the paperwork needed to prepare the financial division.

Custody Agreements: If you and your spouse have children, a custody agreement is required.

To learn more, visit:

Parenting Plans/Custody – Family | WashingtonLawHelp.org | Helpful information about the law in Washington.

Finalizing the Divorce Before a Judge

To finalize your divorce, you’ll need to schedule a hearing to ask a judge to sign your orders.

Call your County’s Courthouse Facilitator to schedule a meeting before a judge.

Here are additional resources for you to learn about the legal divorce process in Washington State:

Divorce/Separation – Family | WashingtonLawHelp.org | Helpful information about the law in Washington.

We will help guide you through this process so you’re clear on what’s needed from you and what we will prepare on your behalf.

Is the Divorce Financially Complex?

For a financially complex divorce, a CDFA® can bring more value bringing clarity to the complexities.

Factors which add to complexity include:

Unclear marital vs personal property
Loved ones with disabilities
Widely varying incomes or future earnings potential

Is Child Custody Disputed?

We do not get involved in custody disputes.

If this is a big factor in your divorce, a family lawyer may be a better fit.

Do You Have Different Financial Goals?

Sometimes one side of the divorce may be thinking about retirement, while the other has more immediate plans at hand.

A CDFA® is here to listen to your goals and propose a division of assets in whatever way makes the most sense for each of you.

Amicable or Adversarial Divorce?

A CDFA works best as a facilitator of cooperative financial discussions. That means both sides must be willing to cooperate.

We understand divorces can get messy, and cooperation isn’t possible. If that’s where you’re at, a divorce attorney may be a better place to start.