Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®) Certification

Advance Your Career with the Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®) Designation

Master Divorce Mortgage Planning and join a national ecosystem that elevates you from a standard transaction lender to a strategic professional.

Trusted by Attorneys | Legal-Aligned Strategies | Ongoing Business Development Support

Divorce involves complex legal and financial restructuring that directly impacts property, debt, and tax exposure. Standard mortgage professionals close loans every day, but they often lack the specialized training to navigate these complexities.

When you earn your CDLP® certification, you acquire a powerful credential. More importantly, you enter a recognized professional discipline supported by the Divorce Lending Association. We help you bridge the critical gap between legal divorce settlements and real-world mortgage funding.

Become a CDLP®

Download CDLP® Certification Guide

Master Divorce Mortgage Planning and Build a Strategic, Referral-Driven Practice

Divorce is more than a transaction; it’s a legal and financial restructuring that affects property ownership, debt allocation, support income, and potential tax exposure. These factors often determine whether a housing outcome negotiated in a settlement is actually achievable.

Divorce Mortgage Planning bridges this gap.

The Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®) designation prepares mortgage professionals to evaluate housing outcomes within the broader legal and financial framework of divorce, helping attorneys, mediators, and financial professionals structure solutions that support long-term post-decree financial stability.

Join a Complete Professional Ecosystem

The CDLP® is not just a standalone certification. It is the cornerstone of a comprehensive framework designed to support divorcing homeowners.

As a CDLP®, you integrate directly into the Divorce Housing Strategy platform. This national consumer education hub helps individuals understand their housing options early in the divorce process. As consumer awareness grows through this platform, homeowners are seamlessly connected with certified professionals like you. You step out of the standard loan officer role and become a highly valued, strategic resource for the entire divorce team.

Equip Yourself with Specialized Strategic Tools

Divorce Mortgage Planning is built on a structured, step-by-step framework that brings clarity and confidence to every decision. As a CDLP®, you’re trained to:

- Conduct Structured Orientation: Guide clients through a financial and legal orientation, breaking down how earned income, support obligations, debt allocation, property division, and settlement timing influence their ability to retain, refinance, or sell marital real estate.
- Integrate Financial Feasibility: Apply Mortgage Capacity Mapping™ to analyze clients’ qualification potential under existing lending standards, factoring in spousal and child support, debt responsibility, and how proposed settlement terms affect lending eligibility.
- Assess Legal Settlement Impact: Evaluate whether property divisions, title transfers, and refinance timelines set out in settlement language are operationally feasible and supported by both financial analysis and underwriting guidelines.
- Align Legal and Financial Outcomes: Ensure every housing settlement aligns legal agreements with actual mortgage capacity and long-term sustainability—reducing post-divorce risk and supporting stable outcomes for your clients.

This structured approach elevates your value—making you an essential advisor, not just a transaction facilitator, on the divorce team.

- Mortgage Capacity Mapping™: Evaluate exact refinance and purchase capabilities based on complex divorce income, support payments, and debt assignments.
- Divorce Clarity Session™: Guide clients through a structured housing orientation to assess their financial reality and timeline feasibility early in the process.
- Strategic Alignment: Ensure that legal settlement agreements actually match current mortgage qualification guidelines to prevent future financial strain.

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.

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.

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.
Monthly Payment Options Available for Certification & CORE Membership

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.