Why Plan


Won't your lawyer handle everything for you?

Divorce attorneys are an invaluable resource. They will make sure that you understand fully and completely the "ins and outs" of the divorce process while providing legal services as it pertains to their client’s needs.


A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ is not an attorney

We do not provide legal advice, legal aid, therapy or divorce coaching.




A CDFA™:

  • Explains all financial aspects in regards to settlement agreements.
  • Educates their clients.
  • Projects the short and long term affects of a proposed settlement.
  • Assists in developing household expenses by taking into consideration all daily living expenses along with cost of living increases, increased medical insurance costs, etc.
  • Removes uncertainty with financial decisions made during the divorce process.

Having analysis options in hand makes an attorney's job easier. Going to an attorney with your analysis in hand will save them time in preparing financial documents thus giving them the time to focus on other legal aspects of your divorce proceedings.

Depending on what is discovered throughout the analysis process, you may be refered to other professionals including an estate attorney, tax accountant, financial planner and insurance provider. Each will help you execute the finer points of your C.R.A.D.L.E. and give you further peace of mind.


Being prepared can help you avoid the pitfalls.

You are the one ultimately responsible for the decisions you make in your divorce. Those decisions should be thought–out and planned.

Decisions like:

  • Should I try to keep the house?
  • What is the most equitable way to divide our assets?
  • What is the after-tax value of our assets?
  • How can I protect my children's future?
  • How can I afford to start over on my own?

And so on.


CDFA™ Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility

The Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility is provided as an expression of the ethical standards that the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts™ has adopted and every Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ has agreed to abide by. The code applies to every Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ designee and candidate in conducting divorce-planning work.

  1. Integrity. Maintain the highest standard of honesty and integrity when dealing with colleagues, the IDFA™, clients or attorneys. Avoid practices that would dishonor your profession, IDFA™ or any of its members and employees.
  2. Competence. In addition to satisfying the continuing education requirement needed to maintain the use of the designation, every CDFA™ should serve their clients competently. Therefore, acquiring the knowledge and skill necessary to do so in the area of divorce planning is required.
  3. Objectivity. Objectivity requires a CDFA™ to be intellectually honest and impartial. Regardless of who hired him or her, a CDFA™ will always be objective when dealing with clients and their attorneys.
  4. Fairness. CDFA™’s who maintain their financial practices should make divorce- planning recommendations independent of the potential financial planning relationship, doing so will alleviate the risk of potential conflict of interest. To do so, a CDFA™ will need to separate the two practices as to not confuse the public.
  5. Confidentiality. A CDFA™ shall hold client information to the highest standard of confidentiality. Short of client consent or appropriate legal process, a CDFA™ shall not release any information about their client before, during or after the divorce.
  6. Professionalism. A CDFA™’s interactions shall project the highest levels of professionalism. Whether dealing with clients, attorneys, IDFA™ or any of its partners or subsidiaries a CDFA™ will behave in a professional manner.
  7. Scope. A CDFA™, by education and training, is specialist dealing in the financial issues of divorce. Working along side the attorney who is licensed to practice law, a CDFA™ must never (unless licensed to do so) advise clients on their legal rights. In addition, a CDFA™ must never market his or her services in a misleading fashion or represent themselves as representatives of IDFA™.
  8. Compliance. A CDFA™ will comply with all the laws related to the business they conduct and report to the IDFA™ any actions by other CDFA™’s that are illegal or in violation of this code. In addition, a CDFA™ will comply with any requests from the IDFA™ for information regarding any complaints brought against him or her. If IDFA™, after comprehensive investigation, decides that either suspension or revocation of the CDFA™ designation is the proper remedy, a CDFA™ will comply with the order.
  9. Unauthorized practice of law. A CDFA™ understands that, in order to practice law, one has to be licensed. Under no circumstances will a CDFA™ represent that the IDFA™ certification is a license to practice law.
  10. Support. A CDFA™ will always support our profession and the IDFA™ as the main driving force behind the progress of the profession. Additionally, a CDFA™ will not collude, debase or discredit the IDFA™ or the profession.


This Is Information,Not Legal Advice
We are providing this information as a public service. We try to make it accurate as of the current date. Sometimes the laws change. We cannot promise that this information is always up–to–date and correct. Most of the information provided on this web site is specific to Washington State law.

We do not intend this information to be legal advice. By providing this information, we are not acting as your lawyer. If you need legal advice, you should contact a lawyer through your local legal aid organization. Always talk to a competent lawyer, if you can, before taking legal action.

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