The Divorce Lending Association and the CDLP™ Certification is the mortgage industry's largest community of mortgage professionals offering the most complete and specific divorce mortgage training and business building platform available.

Recognized by DivorceForce as the premier national organization providing the certification, education and awareness of the benefits of utilizing a divorce lending professional during the divorce process.

Certified Divorce Lending Professional 

Offered by the Divorce Lending Association, the Certified Divorce Lending Professional Certification program is a credible designation for mortgage professionals with a strong desire to advance their careers working with divorcing clients, attorneys and other divorce professionals. Founded in 2014, the CDLP business program is designed to prepare you to become an integral member of the professional divorce team. 

What is a Certified Divorce Lending Professional?

A Certified Divorce Lending Professional brings the financial knowledge and expertise of a solid understanding of the connection between Divorce and Family Law, IRS Tax Rules and mortgage financing strategies as they all relate to real estate and mortgage financing in a divorce situation.

In over 70% of all divorces in the United States real estate is involved and most often, so is the need for mortgage financing. Due to the unique mortgage financing requirements that divorcing clients often face, a Certified Divorce Lending Professional is a major member of the Professional Divorce Team.

The role of the CDLP is to not only help the divorcing client, but the other members of the professional divorce team understand the opportunities available as well as the challenges divorce can bring to mortgage financing during and after the divorce. When the CDLP is involved during the divorce process and not after the fact, many potential financing struggles can be avoided with valuable and educated input from the Certified Divorce Lending Professional.  

The CDLP understands their role is not to provide legal or tax advice. Their role on the professional divorce team is to help by providing insight on mortgage financing opportunities and recognize potential legal or tax concerns that may arise in any given circumstance while bringing these concerns or opportunities to the attention of other team members.

• Serve as a neutral facilitator rather than as an advocate and advisor representing only one party in the divorce.
• Become an essential part of the professional divorce team and become involved early in the process rather than as a post-decree referral.
• Recognize potential legal and tax implications with regards to mortgage financing in divorce situations.
• Identify potential concerns with support/maintenance structures that may conflict with mortgage financing opportunities.
• Implement a strategic divorce settlement agreement while working with the professional divorce team that ensures the best opportunities to secure mortgage financing post divorce.
• Work with divorcing couples in a collaborative setting and other Alternative Dispute Resolution methods.
• Become an Effective Expert Witness.
• Build your practice as a Certified Divorce Lending Professional.
• And So Much More!

The Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP) Certification Course is a divorce mortgage training program designed to prepare you to become an integral member of the professional divorce team. How to identify appropriate mortgage financing and real estate strategies for divorcing clients while recognizing potential hurdles or opportunities with regards to potential tax or legal concerns as they pertain to real estate and divorce.

Program Modules

Introduction to the Divorce Market

Divorce Principles

Grasp a thorough understanding of the divorce process while becoming a financial neutral in Alternative Dispute Resolution, how to work with high conflict clients, and becoming an effective expert witness.

Family Law & Real Estate

Apply your knowledge and understanding of real estate and mortgage financing as they intersect with the various aspects of family law in a divorce situation. From transferring ownership of the marital home to protecting divorcing homeowners from the Due on Sale Clause of the mortgage note. Become an integral member of the professional divorce team as the resident 'Go To Expert'.

Tax Law & Divorce with Real Estate

Learn to recognize important tax implications divorcing clients face and how to help set them up for success post divorce. Differentiate yourself by helping to protect the mortgage interest deduction to creating viable income using specific tax laws for divorcing homeowners.

Divorce & Real  Estate

Divorcing homeowners don't want to rent post-divorce. Work with divorcing sellers and buyers while avoiding common legal pitfalls when selling the marital home; purchasing a new home during divorce and structuring the equity buyout of the marital home.

Mortgage Planning & Divorce

Become the go-to expert in all things divorce mortgage related in your specific market. Apply your knowledge and expertise by recognizing obstacles and providing solutions when working with divorcing homeowners looking to secure current and future mortgage financing in a divorce situation.

Building Your Divorce Lending Practice

Implement our proven processes and build a successful and sustainable divorce lending practice. Learn how to avoid legal liability by handling both legal and tax topics that is fully compliant with state and federal regulations. 

Access to CDLP business platform and marketing collateral to structure, build and grow your successful CDLP business.  

Course Delivery 

The CDLP Certification course is available in the following formats:

1. Online 24/7 Self-Paced. Total hours 18-20 including CDLP exam.
2. 3-Weeks to Launch Workshop: Live via GoTo Meeting. Our 3-Week Launch program is a great opportunity to learn live while at your own home or office. Spread out over a 3-week period, (Tuesday & Thursdays 9:00 am to 1:00 pm MST), we present the full CDLP curriculum paired with a CDLP business builder step. At the end of the 3-weeks, you have completed your CDLP certification and your divorce lending practice is ready to launch as a CDLP!
3. Live onsite. This is a full 3 day live in person workshop. Note: Due to current COVID restrictions, we currently do not have any live trainings scheduled.

You will have access to both the online CDLP curriculum as well as the opportunity to participate in the 3-Weeks to Launch Workshops at no additional cost.

When you become a member of the Divorce Lending Association you are choosing to not only change your mortgage business but make a lifetime impact on your overall business.

Included with your membership is:

• CDLP Certification Course & Materials
• Ongoing CDLP Marketing & Business Development 
• Accreditation to Teach Continuing Legal Education (CLE) and Continuing Education (CE) to Attorneys, CPAs, Financial Planners (CFPs) and Certified Divorce Financial Analysts (CDFAs) when yo pass the CDLP Exam.
• Ongoing Education & Training including monthly negotiation skills training; basic mediation skills training, etc.
• Member Listing in the Divorce Lending Association CDLP Directory
• Access to a private and very active community forum. Exchange scenarios, experiences and insight from other successful CDLPs

Get Started Today & Build a Strong Divorce Lending Practice!

The Divorce Lending Association has a proven Road Map for Success for our CDLP Members.

• Step 1: Complete the CDLP Certification
• Step 2: Access to the CDLP marketing platform opens including business set-up; target audience identification; digital marketing campaigns; etc.
• Step 3: Weekly mentoring; Monthly coaching
• Step 4: Ongoing Education including additional divorce training; negotiation skills training; REM-S Certification (Real Estate Mediation Specialist) and so much more!

Your success is the result of Team Work based off of the execution of proven successful marketing, education and processes.

We create a culture of learning. Helping CDLPs acquire additional knowledge, skills and expertise. Our coaching program is an effective approach to organize, create, capture and distribute knowledge. It also reduces the time required for knowledge transfer by providing direct access to our CDLP experts and peers who can share the required knowledge and skills in an environment that promotes rapid learning and scaling.

Because 80 percent of learning is informal, mentoring empowers learning in ways that manuals, intranets and training programs can’t it shortens the learning curve, and enhances your productivity and success as a CDLP

We have a group Mentoring call every Wednesday starting at noon eastern. We answer every question anyone has and we don’t end the call until every question is answered. We address the 6 step process to rolling out your marketing efforts, we discuss live scenarios, technical questions – nothing is off limits – because your success as a CDLP has no limits!

The Divorce Lending Association provides a strong and results driven marketing and business development platform.  Keeping you top of mind with divorce professionals as their go-to CDLP expert and resource.

The CDLP Marketing & Business Development Platform provides:

• 6 Step CDLP Business Launch
• Ongoing CDLP Marketing & Business Development (Weekly Mentoring | Weekly Marketing | Automated Digital Marketing & Lead Generation | & More!)
• CDLP Personalized Landing Pages including weekly marketing update & lead generation
• Automated Marketing Campaigns featuring you as the local CDLP Expert
• Weekly Mentor Calls
• Semi-monthly group coaching calls to keep you educated and motivated.
• Educational content driven marketing material.
• Weekly social media posts for you to share on your social media platforms.
• An entire vault of high quality and compliant marketing material including marketing flyers, booklets that attorneys love to keep on hand in their offices, personal brochures and more. 
• Specialty Education including mediation training; negotiation strategies; divorce real estate; & more!
• Continuing Education Classes and Presentations| Monthly Live Lunch & Leverage classes for your strategic partners in YOUR OFFICE or learn to present already approved classes on your own. Many offer Continuing Education credits for attorneys, CFP and CDFA designations.

 The CDLP Business Building  & Development Platform builds a successful divorce lending practice for you!

We have based our need of CDLPs in all of the U.S. Metropolitan Areas based off of the current divorce rate of 2.9 per 1,000 population. We have also narrowed the opportunity based off of the number of divorces that involve real estate according to the Financial Divorce Association.

Our market share opportunity per CDLP is calculated to provide each CDLP in a specific MSA with optimal opportunity for success.

For example:

• The current divorce rate is 2.9 per 1,000 population in the United States. That means there are approximately 499 divorces in the Abilene, TX MSA area ANNUALLY!
• According to the Financial Divorce Association, 70% of all divorces in the United States involve real estate. That equates to 349 divorces with real estate and 698 divorcing homeowners who may need your services every year in the Abilene, TX MSA area.

We would hold 1 CDLP – Certified Divorce Lending Professional in this MSA.

What this means to you from a business perspective?

If we can help you capture just 25% of your targeted market share, you would have an opportunity to close 87 divorce mortgage loans ANNUALLY – and that’s if you only work with one side of the divorce! Remember there are two divorcing homeowners in every divorce!

Please note that once we fill our need of CDLPs in a specific area, we will close that market for future CDLPs in order to protect and preserve market share opportunities.

Click Here for More Information on the Opportunities in each U.S. Metropolitan Area

Is there a period or contract requirement with membership?

No, your membership with the Divorce Lending Association is month to month. Note however, to keep your CDLP Certification active, you must have an active membership. 

How current is your material?

The material in the CDLP course is updated regularly and multiple times per year to include any industry changes of significance. When there is any type of an update, all current CDLPs are notified of the changes so they are kept informed and up to date to better service their referral partners and clients. 

Why is a Certification important to have?

It's a stamp of excellence: a certification tells your referral partners and clients that you are well-qualified and that you take your career seriously. Investing in your knowledge and education demonstrates a commitment to your profession and that you are willing to invest time and money into your success. 

Certification keeps you current: One of the most important reasons to get certified is that it helps you stay ahead of the competition. If you truly want to succeed in the divorce lending industry, you need to stay current in all regulations that affect your position. Always keep learning and you'll have a knowledge base that will make you an asset far into the future.

How long does the online course take to complete?

Please allow at least 20 total hours to completely get through the online modules and study guide. The CDLP certification test is available once you have completed the last module. There is a lot of information to cover and the learning process should never end.  

How long do I have to complete the CDLP Certification Course?

There is no time frame. The online CDLP Certification Program is available 24/7 and we understand you have other commitments. Obviously, the sooner you finish the sooner you start building your practice!

What are the requirements for passing the CDLP Certification Exam?

The CDLP Certification exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions and is available upon completion of the training modules and assessments. A score of 80% is required to successfully pass the exam. Should you need to retake the exam, you may do so. 

What if I have a question during the course or after I have become a CDLP?

We are here to help you succeed! If you have questions during the course or scenarios we can help you with while working with a divorcing clients simply reach out to us via email or on the phone. We want to be your resource and help you succeed.

How does the CDLP Certification program differ from other divorce training programs?

• The CDLP Certification and business development program is the only mortgage specific program available. (Rated the Top Divorce Mortgage Training Program by DivorceForce in 2020!)
• Our Faculty and Contributors are more than just professional educators. We have actual field experience in the divorce mortgage industry. Our faculty and contributors consists of professionals from the mortgage, real estate, financial and legal industries.
• We do not restrict your opportunities to market your certification and knowledge to your target market. Just the opposite, we completely support you doing so by providing you with excellent marketing collateral, already completed presentations, continuing education and mentoring/coaching. 

Is your program for real estate agents?

The Certified Divorce Lending Professional course is designed for the mortgage professional. Real estate professionals are always welcome to take our course.

Have a question that we didn't answer? Please send us an email   [email protected]  or call 888-362-CDLP