Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®) Certification for Mortgage Professionals

The CDLP® Business Model: Beyond Transactions

As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional, you have two powerful ways to serve and succeed:

• Traditional Origination: Continue offering expert mortgage solutions to divorcing homeowners, earning commission at closing.

• Hybrid Business Model: Combine origination with fee-based consulting—positioning yourself earlier in the process, increasing your value, and expanding your income.

What Is the CDLP® Hybrid Business Model?

This proprietary model—developed in consultation with industry-leading compliance attorneys—allows you to operate as a mortgage professional and an independent divorce finance strategist.

It’s more than compliant. It’s proven.

With the Hybrid Model, you can:

• Get paid for your expertise up front—not just after a loan closes

• Offer consulting services to attorneys, mediators, and financial professionals

• Diversify income beyond volatile closing pipelines

• Serve both clients and professionals with deeper, more strategic impact

This platform is exclusive to CDLP® Gold and Platinum members.

The Value of Strategy Over Sales

Loan officers sell rates and terms. CDLP®s solve problems—and that starts long before a loan file is created.

With the Hybrid Model, you:

• Build authority early in the divorce process

• Become the go-to advisor among legal and financial professionals

• Offer deliverables that guide property division and mortgage planning

• Create a recession-resistant business rooted in trust, expertise, and results

Tools That Build Real Businesses

The Hybrid Model isn’t just an idea—it’s a fully supported platform that includes:

• Strategic consulting frameworks and engagement agreements

• Deliverables designed for attorneys and mediators

• A referral development system tailored to the divorce industry

• Ongoing coaching and compliance support from the Divorce Lending Association

Designed for Long-Term Growth and Credibility

CDLP®s using the Hybrid Model often experience:

• Higher-quality referrals from legal professionals

• More stable and diversified income

• Faster credibility as subject matter experts

• Clear differentiation in a saturated mortgage market

Start Earning What Your Expertise Is Worth

You didn’t get into this business to wait on closings—you came to make a difference.

The CDLP® Hybrid Business Model gives you the structure, tools, and support to build a business that reflects the true value of your knowledge.

If you're ready to go beyond loan origination and become the strategist attorneys trust, this is your next step.

Curious how it works? Get the CDLP® Guide Now

Why Choose the CDLP® Certification?

If you’re ready to lead, not just lend, this is your next move.

The Certified Divorce Lending Professional® (CDLP®) certification isn’t just a mortgage course. It’s a strategic platform built for professionals who want to serve divorcing homeowners with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Created by mortgage industry expert Jody Bruns, the CDLP® program equips you with the knowledge and tools to work at the intersection of divorce, real estate, and mortgage planning—where few are qualified, but many are needed.

What Makes CDLP® Different

Unlike general mortgage training, CDLP® goes far beyond guidelines and rates. You’ll learn how to:

• Navigate the legal, financial, and tax dynamics of divorce

• Structure mortgage solutions aligned with settlement terms

• Address equity buyouts, income complexities, and property division

• Support attorneys, financial professionals, and mediators with strategic clarity

This is applied, real-world training that positions you as a problem-solver, not a product pusher.

Trusted by the Professionals Who Matter Most

CDLP®s are recognized as neutral experts who:

• Deliver strategic clarity in high-stakes situations.

• Build trust with legal and financial professionals.

• Receive quality referrals based on results, not rates.

• Establish a respected niche in a growing market.

Certification That Comes with a Platform

When you become a CDLP®, you gain access to:

• A nationwide network of like-minded professionals

• Templates, tools, and case strategies you can use immediately

• Ongoing education and group coaching

• Business development guidance and marketing support

Make the Shift from Loan Officer to Divorce Strategy Expert

Divorcing clients don’t need another “divorce-friendly lender.”
They need a trained CDLP® who understands the whole financial picture—and how to navigate it effectively.

Start your certification today and build a business that’s strategic, respected, and recession-resistant.

What You Will Learn with CDLP® Certification

The CDLP® Certification is not surface-level training. It’s an advanced, multidisciplinary education that prepares you to serve divorcing clients with strategic insight, legal fluency, and financial clarity.

You’ll gain the tools, language, and structure to collaborate confidently with attorneys, mediators, and financial advisors—while guiding your clients through one of the most complex financial transitions of their lives.

Core Areas of Training

1. Divorce & Mortgage Planning Fundamentals
Understand the foundational impact of divorce on mortgage financing, real property division, and future housing transitions. Learn how to proactively identify risks and opportunities before negotiations or filings begin.

2. Legal Insights That Matter
Gain essential working knowledge of divorce and real property law, so you understand how court orders, settlement agreements, and title implications affect mortgage planning. You’ll learn how to identify legal limitations, navigate ownership and vesting issues, and speak the language of attorneys to integrate your role directly into the legal strategy. This goes far beyond basic guidelines—it’s about aligning your work with the actual legal framework of the divorce process.

3. Financial & Tax Considerations
This isn’t theory—it’s application. Learn how to evaluate spousal support, child support, retirement accounts, and property transfers through both mortgage underwriting and tax implications. Understand IRS codes, title transfer nuances, and how these impact the viability of financing post-divorce.

4. Advanced Mortgage Strategies for Divorce
Master the complexities of equity buyouts, QDRO distributions, income reclassification, and untangling ownership rights. These are real-world solutions for real divorce scenarios, giving you the confidence to structure deals that protect both parties and preserve settlement intentions.

5. Client Communication & Negotiation
Improve your ability to explain complex financial scenarios in clear, emotionally intelligent ways. You’ll learn how to guide high-conflict situations with compassion, authority, and neutrality, supporting informed decisions without escalating tensions.

6. Ethical & Professional Standards
As a CDLP®, you’re a neutral third-party expert, not a salesperson. Learn how to maintain ethical boundaries, uphold professionalism, and preserve the integrity of both the legal and financial process while still advocating for clarity.

7. Marketing & Business Development
Specialization doesn’t matter if no one knows what you do. We teach you how to position yourself in the legal and financial communities, build high-trust referral pipelines, and offer continuing education to family law professionals who need what you know.

8. Case Studies & Real-World Applications
Your training culminates with real divorce scenarios, case mapping exercises, and strategic implementation. This is where theory meets execution—so you’re prepared to deliver value the moment you're certified.

Choose Your Learning Path

Learn Your Way

Choose the path that fits your schedule and learning style:

• Self-Paced eLearning – Learn at your own speed with on-demand video modules and assessments

• Accelerated Hybrid – A one-week, guided program combining online study with live expert-led sessions

• Live Virtual – Immersive, instructor-led training with live case studies and peer interaction

Each path includes full access to the CDLP® curriculum, certification exam, and ongoing support.

Option One: Self-Paced eLearning

Learn on your own time, at your own pace.

• Includes 24 expert-led video modules, a student workbook, and assessments

• Final exam: 100-question online multiple-choice exam

• Average time to complete: 20 hours

• Full access to email, chat, and phone support throughout your training

Perfect for busy professionals who want flexibility and independence.

Option Two: Accelerated Hybrid Learning Program

Earn your certification in just one week.

• Combines self-paced video modules with live expert-led Zoom sessions

• Dive into real-world scenarios with practical application and group discussion

• Focuses on advanced topics like family law, tax planning, and real estate strategy

• Weekly sessions held the 2nd week of every month:

  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 1:00 to 3:00 PM ET

• Must complete corresponding online modules before attending live sessions

• Business-building strategies included

• Access to the CDLP® Certification Exam after the final session

Ideal if you want structure and live engagement without a long time commitment.

Option Three: Live Virtual Training

A deep dive into the full CDLP® curriculum with live, interactive instruction.

• Led by Jody Bruns, Founder of the Divorce Lending Association

• Live Zoom sessions with real-time discussion, case studies, and Q&A

• Held over two weeks:

  • Week 1: Monday, Wednesday, Friday (12:00–4:00 PM ET)

  • Week 2: Tuesday and Thursday (12:00–4:00 PM ET)

• Designed to immerse you in the concepts of divorce mortgage planning fully

• CDLP® Certification Exam available online after the final session

Great for learners who thrive in a classroom-style setting with live interaction.

What Happens After Certification?

Your CDLP® Certification is just the beginning. You’ll gain access to our exclusive business development platform and group coaching designed to help you implement what you’ve learned and start building your divorce mortgage planning practice.

Want to go further?

Depending on how you want to scale your business, you can upgrade to a higher level of coaching and marketing support, providing access to even more advanced tools, a personalized strategy, and increased visibility in the divorce space.

Important Reminder: The proprietary CDLP® Hybrid Business Model is only available to Gold and Platinum Members.

(See the chart below for a full comparison of membership levels.)