Become the Strategic Authority in Divorce Mortgage Planning

Build a Divorce Mortgage Planning Business

Divorce Mortgage Planning is the strategic integration of mortgage financing into the divorce process, going beyond traditional loan origination to align settlement outcomes with real-world lending standards and long-term financial stability.

The Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®) certification is the standard for Divorce Mortgage Planning. CDLP® professionals meet rigorous education, training, and ethical standards, and are equipped to align mortgage, real property, and settlement outcomes in divorce.

Redefine Your Role in Mortgage—Through Divorce Mortgage Planning

Trusted by Attorneys | Legal-Aligned Strategies | Long-Term Business Growth

Divorce is a financial and legal restructuring that directly impacts real property, debt, and long-term stability. Yet housing decisions are often made without understanding how mortgage financing determines what’s actually possible.

Traditional mortgage professionals close loans.
CDLP® professionals ensure those loans, and the outcomes behind them, actually work.

Because in divorce, the question isn’t: “Can this be approved?”
It’s: “Will this hold up in real life?”

Where Most Mortgage Professionals Fall Short

Without a structured system:

Settlement terms are created without lending alignment
Income and debt are misinterpreted
Refinance assumptions fail in underwriting
Clients are left with outcomes they can’t sustain

This is where most deals break and where CDLP® professionals step in.

Step Into a Recognized Strategic Role

When you earn your CDLP® certification, you step into a defined professional discipline supported by the Divorce Lending Association, bridging the gap between legal agreements and real-world mortgage execution.

And to do that effectively… You need more than knowledge.

You need a system.

Become a Certified Divorce Lending Professional

Download CDLP® Certification Guide

Step Into a Fully Built Divorce Mortgage Planning Framework

The CDLP® is more than a certification; it’s your entry into a fully integrated Divorce Mortgage Planning framework built around Mortgage Capacity Mapping™.

Mortgage Capacity Mapping™ is the structured CDLP® system for evaluating, modeling, and guiding divorce-related housing outcomes, aligning legal strategy with lending realities to determine what is truly feasible and sustainable.

As a CDLP®, you step beyond the traditional loan officer role and into a strategic position within the divorce process, working alongside attorneys, mediators, and financial professionals to support real-world outcomes.

Through the Divorce Housing Strategy platform, consumer awareness is driven at a national level, connecting informed homeowners directly with certified professionals like you.

Equip Yourself with Specialized Strategic Tools

Divorce Mortgage Planning is built on a structured, step-by-step approach that brings clarity, alignment, and confidence to complex housing decisions.

At the center of that approach is Mortgage Capacity Mapping™, giving you the ability to analyze not just what’s possible on paper, but what actually works in real life.

As a CDLP®, you are trained to:

Guide Strategic Client Conversations
Help clients understand how income, support, debt, and settlement timing impact their housing options.

Analyze True Mortgage Capacity
Use Mortgage Capacity Mapping™ to evaluate feasibility based on real lending standards, not assumptions.

Evaluate Settlement Feasibility
Identify when proposed terms will fail in underwriting before they become finalized agreements.

Align Legal and Financial Outcomes
Ensure housing decisions are sustainable, reducing post-divorce risk and future financial strain.

This structured approach elevates your role, positioning you as a strategic advisor within the divorce process, not just a transaction facilitator.

Specialized Tools That Set You Apart

Mortgage Capacity Mapping™
A structured system for determining real refinance and purchase outcomes by analyzing income, debt, equity, and timing within divorce.

Divorce Housing Strategy Session™
A guided consultation that brings early clarity to housing decisions and financial direction.

Strategic Alignment Framework
A process for ensuring settlement agreements align with lending standards before they are finalized.

Because in divorce, the question isn’t what someone qualifies for; it’s what actually works.

Three Ways CDLP® Professionals Build Their Divorce Practice

Divorce Mortgage Planning creates multiple opportunities for mortgage professionals to build a specialized practice within the divorce niche.

CDLP® professionals may generate revenue through commission-based transactions, fee-based consulting, or a hybrid model combining both.

Many CDLP® professionals ultimately develop a hybrid approach that combines strategic consulting with mortgage transactions.

Step Into Divorce Mortgage Planning with Confidence

Start here.

Download the questions that help you think strategically through divorce cases, so you can identify opportunities, strengthen your approach, and avoid breakdowns before they happen.

Most mortgage professionals have experience with divorce transactions…
This shows you how to approach them with clarity, structure, and confidence.

Get the Divorce Mortgage Planning Questions

Choose Your Learning Experience

We offer two flexible ways to complete your training:

Self-Paced eLearning: Complete the 20-hour comprehensive online course on your own schedule.
Live Virtual Certification: Join interactive, instructor-led video sessions featuring real-world case studies and group discussions.

View CDLP® Course Syllabus

The CORE Platform for Building a Divorce Mortgage Planning Practice

CDLP® Certification establishes your expertise in Divorce Mortgage Planning.
CORE Membership provides the platform to build and scale your CDLP® practice.

Through CORE Membership, you gain access to the systems, tools, and strategic support designed to help CDLP® professionals build and expand their Divorce Mortgage Planning business.

Open CDLP® Guide for more details on CORE Membership benefits.

Active CORE Members participate fully in the Divorce Lending Association ecosystem and gain access to the Divorce Housing Strategy platform.

CORE Membership is designed for professionals committed to building a deeper, more strategic practice in Divorce Mortgage Planning.

CDLP® Certification Pricing & Registration

$2,495 One-Time Certification Fee
$497 Annual Certification Renewal
Optional CORE Membership ($229/month): Access advanced business development systems, automated marketing, and exclusive coaching platforms.

Your certification includes:

- Complete education on family law, real property, tax considerations, and mortgage planning.
- Launch and Leverage business development tools to position yourself as an industry expert.
- Monthly live coaching calls to discuss case strategy, business growth, and real-world application.
- Ongoing updates and continuing education credits.

Success Stories from CDLP® Professionals

"The CDLP® designation is the gold standard in Divorce Mortgage Planning. It literally changed the trajectory of my professional life."
— Don Moll, Florida

"The professional marketing materials make it easy to stand out and confidently communicate your value to attorneys. My only regret is that I didn’t do this sooner!"
— Audra McMahon, CDLP®

Take the Next Step in Your Career

Join mortgage professionals across the country who specialize in Divorce Mortgage Planning. Help divorcing homeowners navigate difficult housing decisions with confidence and a clear strategy.

I have been working in the divorce space since 2018 but after getting my CDLP certification at the end of 2023 I have really increased my divorce lending business. I have become involved in 2 different collaborative law groups locally and have started connecting with a couple financial neutrals and 6 attorneys are contacting me fairly regularly to work with their clients. It has been a little over 10% of my business. I’m much more comfortable talking about this niche now and in my business networking I’m leveraging this area of my business to let people know I am specialized.

Carol Zink-Mailloux, CDLP® - New Hampshire

Being affiliated with the Divorce Lending Association helps solidify my reputation in the market with quality divorce specific education, resources, and community engagement, as well as the ability to educate local attorney and financial planning partners with state approved continuing legal education. I couldn’t be more delighted!

Audra McMahon, CDLP® - Kansas City

The Divorce Lending Association’s Certified Divorce Lending certification course is an absolute game-changer. Not only does it provide comprehensive education, but the continued support from Jody, Lynn, and the entire Divorce Lending Association community is truly unparalleled. The professional marketing materials are top-notch, making it easy to stand out and confidently communicate your value to attorneys and their clients. My only regret is that I didn’t do this sooner! If you're serious about specializing in divorce mortgage planning, don’t wait another day. This course gives you the knowledge and confidence to truly make a difference.

Wendy Thompson, CDLP® - Tennessee

I have been a CDLP for about 2 years, one of the best educational programs in the mortgage industry. I always look for different niches in the industry to set myself apart. Since most of my marketing over my career has been to Financial Advisors, CPA’s and Attorneys the CDLP certification was perfect. I now leverage that education and certification to bring a new level of expertise to my referral partners. This has made a difference in my referrals. Now as I am working with divorcing clients, I am able to show their attorneys how I can be an asset to their practice. I highly recommend the CDLP certification.

Ken Venick - Maryland

I first connected with Jody and the Divorce Lending Association in 2014 after encountering several divorce-related mortgage files. Unfortunately, I found myself unable to assist at the time due to settlement agreements that didn’t align with the necessary mortgage guidelines. Over the years, I have found immense fulfillment in helping clients navigate the complexities of divorce settlements. Piecing together the divorce puzzle, especially when we can achieve a positive outcome for all parties involved, has been incredibly rewarding. Through my journey, I've come to understand that mastering the nuanced guidelines of Divorce Mortgage Planning takes time and patience. The advanced concepts and support that Jody and Team DLA provide are truly exceptional and set us apart from standard lenders. I am deeply grateful for their expertise, dedication, and the invaluable support they offer. #GratefulCDLPer

Dave Kaufman - Oregon

The Divorce Lending Association and CDLP® program has really opened doors of partnerships with not only divorce professionals like family law attorneys, but estate and elder law attorneys. Being a CDLP® has also given me the opportunity to deepen my relationship with real estate agents and financial advisors. Given the opportunity to explain how we help navigate marital settlement agreements and mortgage planning creates an admiration that I am not just another lender. As we say at the DLA, “Just because it’s a legal option, doesn’t mean it’s a lending option.