Divorce Lending Association

What Divorce Lending Association does

Divorce Lending Association (DLA), founded in 2014 by Jody Bruns and headquartered in Fairhope, Alabama, operates as a private professional membership association and standards body that established "Divorce Mortgage Planning" as a defined discipline. The company serves three audiences: mortgage professionals seeking the Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®) credential, allied professionals (family law attorneys, mediators, CDFA®s, CFP®s) who refer clients to CDLPs and pursue continuing education, and divorcing consumers who need housing and mortgage guidance. Its core technology is the proprietary Mortgage Capacity Mapping™ four-phase analytical framework (Property Feasibility Analysis, Income Qualification Structuring, Debt Allocation Impact Modeling, and Equity & Cash Flow Solutions Engineering), supplemented by the Divorce Mortgage Planning and Real Property Report (DMPR) and the Divorce Strategy Hub mobile application.

The product portfolio combines a flagship certification program (CDLP® eLearning at $1,495 with $197 annual renewal; Accelerated Hybrid variant), a real-estate-focused credential (REM-S™), a portfolio of accredited continuing-education courses for attorneys, mediators, financial planners, and judicial officers (The Alignment Series™; CFP/CDFA dual-credit course; "Divorcing Your Mortgage"), and two recurring-revenue membership tiers (Prime Access at $49/month or $490/year, Allied Professional Membership). Higher-margin revenue streams include Strategic Acceleration Coaching at $1,200 every four weeks for a 12-week engagement with the founder, consumer workshops at $97, and digital guides. The company distributes primarily through a self-paced eLearning platform, live virtual Alignment Series sessions, a public CDLP® directory, phone-based sales (888-362-CDLP), the Divorce Strategy Hub app on iOS and Android, and content marketing through blog, podcast, and weekly newsletter channels.

Monetization spans one-time certification fees, recurring subscriptions, professional-services coaching, and accredited CE micro-products, with the bulk of demand concentrated in mortgage professionals (1,000+ CDLP® practitioners across 50 states, 3,000+ professionals trained cumulatively). DLA holds accreditations with the CFP Board, the Institute of Divorce Financial Analysts, multiple state bar associations for CLE, and CME/CJE providers, creating the cross-disciplinary accreditation infrastructure that differentiates it from single-discipline training providers. No external funding rounds, parent company, or public financial disclosures were identified.

Name

Divorce Lending Association

Legal name

Divorce Lending Association, LLC

Website

https://divorcelendingassociation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Divorce Lending Association is a private professional association that certifies mortgage and real estate professionals (CDLP®, REM-S™) in divorce mortgage planning, delivers accredited continuing education to family law and financial professionals, and provides housing-strategy resources to divorcing consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification and Continuing Education

NAICS

Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (522310)

SIC

Loan Brokers (6163)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Mortgage Brokerage (Purchase & Refinance) (FSAEAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Real Estate Valuation Review & Litigation/Dispute Support Advisory (BPAJANAK), Buyer Representation Services (BPAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• Divorce mortgage planning
• Professional certification programs
• Continuing education credits
• Real estate mediation training
• Mortgage lender education

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairhope

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. CDLP® Certification Fees: Certification program for mortgage professionals providing comprehensive training in family law fundamentals, equitable distribution, and mortgage qualification under divorce conditions. Includes curriculum, exam, credential, and CORE Membership with proprietary analytical frameworks.
2. Prime Access Membership: Monthly or annual subscription providing foundational education, weekly strategy lessons, monthly workshops, community forum, curated articles, podcasts, and strategy hub access for professionals exploring divorce mortgage planning.
3. Hybrid Learning Program: Accelerated self-paced eLearning combined with live instructor-led sessions, capstone review, and business-building session. Includes 24 video modules, workbooks, coaching, and tools.
4. CFP®/CDFA® Continuing Education: Self-paced online courses for financial professionals offering dual CE credits approved by CFP Board and CDFA Institute, covering integration of divorce mortgage planning into financial case management.
5. Client Consultation Services: Free 30-minute exploratory consultations and fee-based Strategic Acceleration Coaching (weekly 1:1 sessions for 12 weeks at $1,200 per 4 weeks), positioning CDLPs as consultative advisors rather than transaction-only loan officers.
6. Newsletter Subscription: Weekly newsletter on divorce real estate and mortgage planning strategies delivered to subscribers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Divorce Lending Association trains, certifies, and supports mortgage and real estate professionals to advise divorcing clients on real property and mortgage decisions through the CDLP® and REM-S™ credentialing programs. Its offering combines structured certification curricula, proprietary analytical frameworks (Mortgage Capacity Mapping™ and the DMPR report), recurring professional memberships (Prime Access, Allied Professional), and continuing education across legal, mediation, financial, and judicial disciplines, supplemented by a public practitioner directory and consumer-facing resources.

Product overview

Divorce Lending Association is a professional certification and training organization that has established Divorce Mortgage Planning as a defined professional discipline. The company operates a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on its flagship CDLP® (Certified Divorce Lending Professional) certification and REM-S™ (Real Estate Mediation Specialist) certification programs, supported by proprietary analytical frameworks including Mortgage Capacity Mapping™ and the Divorce Mortgage Planning and Real Property Detail Report (DMPR). The product portfolio spans professional certifications, continuing education courses (The Alignment Series™, Integrating Divorce Mortgage Planning, Divorcing Your Mortgage CE), workshops (Divorce Workshop, Divorce Real Estate Workshop), the Divorce Strategy Hub mobile app, and subscription memberships (Prime Access, Allied Professional Membership). Additional offerings include Strategic Acceleration Coaching, digital guides on refinancing and loan assumptions, consumer resources, and a weekly newsletter. The company serves mortgage professionals seeking certification, allied professionals (attorneys, mediators, CDFAs, CFPs), and divorcing consumers through a network of certified practitioners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CDLP (Certified Divorce Lending Professional): Professional certification designation for mortgage professionals specializing in divorce mortgage planning
• REM-S (Real Estate Mediation Specialist)
• Divorce Strategy Hub
• Mortgage Capacity Mapping
• The Alignment Series

Products and services

• CDLP® Certification Program Flagship certification program for licensed mortgage professionals providing comprehensive training in family law fundamentals, equitable distribution, and mortgage qualification under divorce conditions. Includes ~20 hours of structured video, real-world case studies, live learning, final assessment, listing in the public CDLP® directory, and ongoing CORE Membership.
• REM-S™ Certification Program Certification course for real estate professionals developing mediation skills for divorce-related property transactions and collaboration with family law professionals.
• Mortgage Capacity Mapping™ Framework Four-phase analytical framework consisting of Property Feasibility Analysis™, Income Qualification Structuring™, Debt Allocation Impact Modeling™, and Equity & Cash Flow Solutions Engineering™ for analyzing housing decisions in divorce.
• Divorce Mortgage Planning and Real Property Detail Report (DMPR) Structured analysis report providing divorce teams with details about marital real property including ownership status, deed type, property tax, valuation, ATROS, homeowner insurance, existing mortgages, equity status, and up to four finance scenarios for equity buy-out options and purchase scenarios.
• Divorce Strategy Hub Mobile App Mobile application providing a guided platform that helps users understand divorce housing options, evaluate outcomes, and make informed decisions about the home and mortgage during divorce. Available on iOS and Android; included with Prime Access Membership.
• Prime Access Membership Subscription membership ($49/month or $490/year) providing weekly strategy lessons, monthly workshops, evolving courses on divorce principles and marketing strategies, community forum, curated articles, podcasts, and Divorce Strategy Hub app access for professionals exploring divorce mortgage planning.
• Allied Professional Membership Annual membership program for family law attorneys, CDFAs, mediators, real estate professionals, and financial planners providing professional directory listing, podcast guest opportunities, thought leadership contributions, workshops with CE credits, exclusive Scenario Case Desk access, and Divorce Mortgage Lab access.
• The Alignment Series™ Continuing Education Program Live virtual continuing education program for family law attorneys (CLE), mediators (CME), financial professionals (CE), and judicial officers (CJE) covering the intersection of divorce, real property, and mortgage financing. Three tiers: pre-approved credit, self-application eligible, and professional education.
• Integrating Divorce Mortgage Planning Course (CFP®/CDFA® Dual Credit) Self-paced online course ($79 registration; free for Allied Professional Members) approved for 4.5 CFP® CE hours and 4 CDFA® CE hours. Covers introduction to divorce mortgage planning, legal/compliance aspects, financial considerations, mortgage planning strategies, and real-life case studies.
• Divorce Workshop: Preparing for Mortgage Financing During and After Divorce Self-paced online consumer workshop ($97) with 6 educational training modules (3 hours), downloadable workbook covering mortgage options during divorce, asset division optimization, credit preservation, and tailored mortgage solutions. Includes a free 1:1 consultation with a local CDLP® and an individual DMPR upon completion.
• Divorce Real Estate Workshop One-hour introductory workshop guiding real estate professionals through building partnerships with attorneys, mediators, and family law professionals, covering the family law landscape, collaboration opportunities, relationship building, and REM-S certification introduction.
• Marketing to Divorce Attorneys Course (Strategic Playbook) On-demand training with 8 video modules and 40+ page Strategic Positioning & Referral Playbook teaching mortgage professionals how to position themselves as high-value resources for family law professionals. Free access through Module 3, then $97 for full access.
• Accelerated Hybrid CDLP® Certification One-week hybrid certification program ($1,495) combining self-paced eLearning with three live instructor-led Zoom sessions, final exam, and business-building session. Self-paced modules cover divorce principles, family law, financial/tax planning, and real property topics.
• Strategic Acceleration Coaching 12-week coaching program with weekly 1:1 45-minute sessions led by Jody Bruns, billed $1,200 every 4 weeks. Requires Gold Level DLA Membership. Focuses on setting up a divorce mortgage planning consulting practice, developing marketing strategies, and establishing long-term growth.
• Divorcing Your Mortgage CE Course Two-hour continuing education course ($45) approved for CDFA and CFP designations. Covers implications and challenges of how divorce settlement agreements involving real estate, spousal support, and child support are affected by mortgage financing requirements and tax law.
• A Guide to Refinancing the Mortgage in Divorce Comprehensive downloadable guide ($14.99) covering vetting the house, qualifying income, consumer debt analysis, equity buy-out solutions, and real-life case studies for refinancing during divorce.
• A Guide to Assuming the Mortgage in Divorce Essential resource guide covering types of loan assumptions, assumability determination, tax implications, and lender qualification requirements for assuming mortgages during divorce.
• Divorce Property and Mortgage Strategies Newsletter Weekly email newsletter delivering industry trends, techniques, and actionable strategies for divorce professionals serving divorcing clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.4 million divorcing households market (35% of existing home sales)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• State Bar Associations (Multiple)coreOthersApproved CLE provider with multiple state bar associations for continuing legal education credit. The Divorce Lending Association has obtained state-level approval for Alignment Series programs with specific provider numbers.
• CFP BoardcoreOthersApproved CE provider for Certified Financial Planner® professionals. Course approved for 4.5 CE hours (Course ID 319584).
• Institute of Divorce Financial Analysts (CDFA®)coreOthersApproved CE provider for Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® designation. Course approved for 4 CE hours.
• Continuing Mediator Education (CME) ProviderscoreOthersState-by-state CME accreditation for mediators. Alignment Series programs approved for continuing mediator education credits in specific jurisdictions.
• Continuing Judicial Education ProviderscoreOthersCJE accreditation for judicial officers. The Divorce Lending Association is an approved CJE provider for programs covering divorce mortgage planning realities.
• Allied Professional Members (Attorneys, Mediators, CFPs, CDFAs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of family law attorneys, mediators, financial advisors, divorce coaches, and real estate professionals with Allied Professional Membership providing directory listing, CE access, and Scenario Case Desk collaboration.
• Divorcehousing.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConsumer-facing website for free 20-minute housing consultations and resources for divorcing homeowners seeking CDLP professionals.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts: Issues the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) designation for financial professionals working in divorce contexts — the closest analog to DLA's CDLP® model and a natural competitor for the same family-law referral network.
• American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers: Invitation-only professional association of family law attorneys; operates a similar credentialed-membership model at the intersection of divorce, real estate, and finance that DLA's CDLP program serves.

Emerging players

• International Academy of Collaborative Professionals: Trains interdisciplinary divorce professionals (attorneys, coaches, financial neutrals) in collaborative divorce processes — overlaps with DLA's allied-professional training and referral ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Mortgage Bankers Association: National trade association offering mortgage industry education, certifications, and CE programming; broader scope than DLA but represents the dominant institutional competitor for industry training dollars.
• National Association of Mortgage Brokers: Trade association for residential mortgage brokers offering certification and education; comparable professional-association structure and CDLP-relevant continuing education pathways.
• National Association of REALTORS®: Largest U.S. real estate trade association offering designations and CE; DLA's REM-S™ competes for the same real estate practitioner attention and credentials.
• CFP Board: Certifies Certified Financial Planner™ professionals and accredits CE providers; DLA is a current approved CE provider (4.5 hours) within this ecosystem and competes for similar practitioner mindshare.

Others

• Coursera: Large-scale online professional education platform; represents the broader competitive threat of generalist MOOC providers entering niche professional certification verticals.
• Kaplan: Long-established professional certification and continuing education provider across financial, legal, and real estate verticals; analogous to DLA's role in mortgage/law CE.
• Nolo: Consumer- and professional-facing legal self-help publisher with divorce-related content and CE offerings; comparable in segmenting consumer versus professional divorce education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CDLPDivorce
• Facebookfacebook.com/divorcelendingassociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/divorcelendingassociation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Divorce Lending Association