Divorce attorney vs. Certified Divorce Financial Advisor (CDFA): a clear guide to who handles what
Behind every legal decision in your divorce is a money decision that can make or break your post-divorce life. And sometimes, things overlap so much you’re left thinking, “Should I bring this to my lawyer or my CDFA?”
Knowing who handles what shouldn’t be one more thing keeping you up at night. That’s why we created this guide. Inside, you’ll find:
The difference between a divorce lawyer and a financial advisor
A breakdown of who handles what
Examples of how your attorney and CDFA partnership can spare you some heartburn
tl;dr
- Divorce attorneys handle the legal side of your divorce. These are things like filing paperwork, negotiating enforceable agreements, managing custody, and representing you in court.
- CDFAs focus on the financial side. These are things like helping you understand assets, making sure you’ll be covered financially after your divorce, and evaluating divorce settlements.
- They work best as a team. The attorney ensures the settlement is legal, the CDFA ensures it’s going to be enough for your future.
Meet your divorce team
Divorce is emotional. It’s overwhelming. It makes every decision feel urgent, life-altering, and packed with consequences. And, as you’re probably realizing, divorce isn’t just legal drama, it’s a financial jigsaw puzzle, too.
That’s why you need a divorce dream team. Specifically, a divorce lawyer and a CDFA. Both are crucial for making sure you don’t just survive your divorce, but can actually build a better life after.
Your lawyer looks out for your legal rights. Think of them as your legal bulldog. They’re here to make sure your divorce agreement is crystal clear and rock-solid.
Let’s say you and your spouse agree to “split the kids’ expenses.” One of you might be thinking college, cars, and laptops. The other might be thinking school supplies, dance lessons, and dental visits.
Your lawyer’s job is to make sure “kids’ expenses” are spelled out so you’re not dragged back into court five years from now arguing over who owes whom for point shoes and soccer cleats.
And if your ex stops paying what they’re supposed to? You can go back to court and say, “Hey, this isn’t happening the way we agreed.”
Now let’s talk money. The financial side of divorce is where things can go sideways. That’s where your CDFA comes in. They are the financial guides you didn’t know you needed. Their job is to run the numbers, ask the hard questions, and help you protect yourself financially.
Say you're offered a choice between keeping a $50,000 car or taking $50,000 in savings. On paper they might look the same to you, but one look at the offer and your CDFA is going to say, “Hey, let’s talk.” That car will need insurance, maintenance, and it’s going to depreciate. The $50,000 in savings, on the other hand, it can grow over time if invested.
Your CDFA helps you see the real value so your lawyer knows what to push for in negotiations. That’s why divorce isn’t just court dates and paperwork. It’s your financial future, too.
Your divorce team: who handles what?
It helps to understand how the CDFA’s role complements your attorney’s. Here's how the work is typically divided.
Divorce lawyers: legal protection and advocacy
Your attorney will handle things like:
Filing for divorce, managing the legal to-do lists, and keeping track of deadlines. These are tasks only a lawyer can do. They’re licensed to file legal paperwork, represent you in court, and guide the legal process of divorce.
Writing and negotiating the actual divorce settlement agreement. Your divorce agreement is a contract and contracts are part of your lawyer’s wheelhouse. They’ll write and negotiate it, ideally with input from your CDFA to make sure the numbers hold up.
Handling child custody and visitation. Custody is a legal issue involving rights, court orders, and sometimes serious disputes. Whether it’s about parenting time, relocation, or enforcement, your lawyer leads this part of the process.
Managing conflict and high-stakes negotiation. Maybe your spouse is questioning your ability to parent, refusing to share financial information, or challenging every part of your proposed agreement. If things get too tense, your lawyer is trained to handle these and other difficult negotiations. In some cases, they may also bring in a therapist or mediator to help keep things moving forward.
Certified Divorce Financial Analysts (CDFAs): your money professionals
While your lawyer is handling the legal side of your divorce, your CDFA is making sure the money side works for you in the short- and the long-term. Here’s what they typically take off your plate:
Making sense of your finances. RSUs, QDROs, and NLOs. Every industry has jargon and finance is no exception. If you’ve never heard these terms before, that’s completely normal. Your CDFA can break it down, explain what it means for you, and help you make smart, informed money decisions without needing a finance degree.
Creating a post-divorce budget to fit your new life. Your income, expenses, and priorities are all shifting. A CDFA helps you build a realistic, sustainable budget so you’re not left scrambling later.
Helping you decide whether to keep or sell your home. This is one of the biggest emotional and financial decisions you’ll make. Your CDFA looks at the full picture—things like taxes, market value, maintenance costs—to help you figure out if keeping the house is a solid investment or a money trap.
Valuing complex assets like pensions, stock options, and retirement accounts. These include any 401(k), 403(b), and 457(b) accounts. Your CDFA does the math and helps you understand which assets are actually worth negotiating for in your situation.
Making sure your settlement will support you in the long-run. Divorce settlements are not a one-size-fits-all. Your CDFA uses financial planning to model whether your settlement will support your current lifestyle and future retirement plans.
Planning for your kids’ future, too. How does divorce affect financial aid eligibility? Should you prioritize saving for school first or retirement or emergencies? Your CDFA can answer these questions and more to make sure you’ll have enough to cover college expenses after the divorce.
When your CDFA teams up with other experts
Even the best financial pros know when to call in backup. This might look like:
Backing you up in court by appearing as a financial expert. Your attorney leads the legal strategy but your CDFA can step in to provide the financial receipts. Literally. They’ll testify as an expert witness to make sure the court sees the full financial picture.
Tagging in a CAP to catch tax landmines. CDFAs know divorce finances inside and out, but if your spouse owns a business or you’ve got complex tax returns, a CPA may be brought in for next-level tax strategy. Think of them as a second set of expert eyes, there to help you avoid any expensive surprises later.
Making sure child support or alimony actually work in real life. Your lawyer will calculate payments based on legal formulas. Your CDFA makes sure those numbers actually fit your budget. You want to be able to live your life, not just survive it.
The right team cuts through the chaos
A better divorce settlement starts with the right team. When you’ve got both a divorce lawyer and a financial professional like a CDFA in your corner, you’re not just reacting, you’re planning. Together, they help you make clear, informed decisions without guesswork and without scrambling.
Protect your rights and your money during divorce
You’ve got enough on your plate. Let CURO handle the money moves that’ll set you up for the next chapter in your life.
This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, tax, or legal advice. CURO Wealth Management does not provide legal or tax advice. You should consult a legal or tax professional regarding your individual situation.