How Does it Help us to Use a Financial Neutral as we Negotiate the Terms of our Divorce?
A Financial Specialist (also called a Financial Neutral) is a neutral third party who works as a member of a Collaborative Law team to assist parties as needed. Regardless of the assets and debts you have accumulated, a Financial Specialist can provide important and helpful information to you and your spouse. For example, you may want to know:
What is the best way to divide our assets and debts given our interests?
How do we afford moving from one household to two?
Is my spouse hiding money from me?
Has my spouse spent money without telling me?
Among other things, a Financial Specialist will request documents from both parties, including statements for all accounts in the parties’ joint and sole names, review those documents, and then report to the parties and their attorneys on their present values and potential budgets. If the Financial Specialist notices that statements for an account are missing, then he or she will request these statements. As a group, and with the advice of the Financial Specialist, you and your spouse then generate options regarding dividing assets and debts and paying for expenses moving forward. If you suspect your spouse is hiding assets or has spent money without telling you, then the Financial Specialist will be able to spot these issues so they can be addressed you and your Collaborative Law team.
The Financial Specialists who are members of CCDP are specifically trained in the Collaborative Law process and hold special accreditations.
