Family law attorneys, strengthen your divorce cases with CDFA® expertise
We provide comprehensive financial analysis, expert witness testimony, and collaborative support to help family law attorneys secure better outcomes for their clients.
Serving family law attorneys throughout Michigan and Ohio
Why attorneys should work with a CDFA® for divorce cases
You handle the legal strategy. We handle the financial complexity.
With dual Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) credentials, we bring specialized expertise to cases involving complex assets, business valuations, pension divisions, and long-term financial planning.
The result: Your clients get fairer settlements, and you spend less time deciphering financial statements and more time doing what you do best.
Our involvement strengthens your position at the negotiation table and provides credible expert testimony when cases go to trial.
How we work with family law attorneys
-
We analyze proposed settlements to identify financial red flags, unfair provisions, and missed opportunities. We model different division scenarios, calculate true asset values (pre-tax vs. post-tax), and project long-term financial implications. This analysis gives you concrete ammunition for negotiations and helps your client understand why they should accept or reject specific offers.
-
We provide deposition and trial testimony on financial matters including asset valuation, cash flow analysis, lifestyle needs, business valuations, and settlement fairness. Our dual CDFA and CFP® credentials give our testimony weight with judges and opposing counsel. We prepare comprehensive financial exhibits, respond to discovery requests, and can withstand cross-examination on complex financial topics.
-
Having a CDFA for divorce cases present during mediation changes the dynamic. We attend sessions as your client's financial advocate, ask critical questions in real-time, challenge unfair proposals with data, and help identify creative solutions that satisfy both parties' needs. Mediators often welcome our involvement because it speeds resolution and reduces back-and-forth.
-
We handle the financial heavy lifting for cases involving business interests, professional practices, stock options and restricted stock units, pension and retirement account divisions, real estate portfolios, executive compensation packages, and trust considerations. We work with business appraisers when needed and translate complex valuations into clear settlement strategy.
-
We review financial disclosures and tax returns to identify potential hidden assets, analyze income and expense affidavits for inconsistencies, flag suspicious transactions or transfers, and identify areas requiring deeper investigation or forensic accounting. We help you know which financial questions to ask and where to dig deeper.
When to bring in a CDFA
The earlier you involve us, the better. Bringing in a CDFA during discovery allows us to shape financial strategy from the beginning rather than reacting to proposals later.
Cases involving:
Net worth over $2M or complex asset structures
Business ownership or professional practices
Significant retirement assets, pensions, or stock compensation
Real estate portfolios or commercial property
Clients who lack financial sophistication
High-conflict situations requiring expert testimony
Disputes over lifestyle needs or support calculations
“As a divorce attorney, it is a pleasure to work with Kristen. She gives my clients peace of mind to know they have a knowledgeable financial expert in their corner. I appreciate working with someone who can help at all stages of the process, from discovery through negotiation and implementation.”
— Sally R., Attorney
Meet Kristen Roy, CDFA®, CFP®
With 20 years of experience in financial services, Kristen’s approach as a CDFA is rooted in advocating for what is most fair and important for her clients.
How we will work alongside your law firm
Collaborative Process
We communicate directly with you throughout the case, provide regular updates, respond quickly to questions, and adapt our approach to match your strategy.
Client-Centered
Your client hires us, but we work as an extension of your team. We never undermine your legal advice and always defer to your judgment on legal matters.
Clear Communication
We translate complex financial concepts into language your client can understand. We prepare you for depositions and trials with clear explanations of our methodology and findings.
Professional Documentation
We provide detailed written reports, clean financial exhibits suitable for court, and organized documentation that makes your job easier.
Fee Structure
We work on an hourly basis and bill clients directly. Most cases involving CDFA services range from $2,000 to $10,000 depending on complexity, though some consultations require less and high-conflict litigation cases may require more.
We're happy to discuss scope and anticipated costs before engagement so you can set appropriate expectations with your client.
Frequently Asked Questions About Having A CDFA on Your Divorce Settlement Team
-
Anytime the case involves significant assets, complex valuations, or a client who needs help understanding the financial implications of settlement proposals. The earlier you bring us in, the more strategic value we can provide. Even amicable cases benefit from CDFA® involvement to ensure fairness and prevent costly mistakes.
-
Yes, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in divorce cases. Our testimony covers financial analysis, asset valuation, cash flow projections, and settlement fairness. Our dual CDFA® and CFP® credentials strengthen our credibility with judges and hold up well under cross-examination.
-
We provide initial financial analysis and can identify red flags suggesting hidden assets or unreported income. For cases requiring deep forensic investigation, we'll recommend bringing in a specialized forensic accountant. We can work alongside forensic accountants to integrate their findings into settlement strategy.
-
Only with your explicit permission and typically only on factual financial matters. We defer to you on all strategy and legal communications. Most of our interaction with opposing counsel happens through formal discovery responses or during mediation when we're present with you.
Ready to collaborate?
If you have a client who could benefit from CDFA expertise, or if you'd like to discuss how we can support an upcoming case, we'd love to connect. In our inquiry form, please specify that you are a lawyer or related professional.