Divorce Services

Divorce mortgage planning and refinancing

Before agreeing to keep the house, find out whether you can actually qualify to refinance it on your own.

What this professional does

A mortgage professional can review income, debts and credit to estimate whether one spouse can refinance the marital home or qualify for a new purchase after the divorce. Bringing this in before the settlement is signed helps avoid agreements that look good on paper but cannot be financed.

The Divorce Lending Association issues the Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP) designation, which it describes as training in divorce mortgage planning. It is a private designation. Mortgage loan originators must be licensed or registered, and you can look them up through NMLS Consumer Access.

When to seek this help

  • One spouse plans to keep the house and remove the other from the loan.
  • Support income will be part of qualifying for a new loan.
  • You are negotiating an equity buyout and need to know what is realistic.
  • You want to buy a home soon after the divorce.

How to prepare

  • Current mortgage statement and loan details.
  • Two years of tax returns and recent pay stubs.
  • Credit card, auto and student loan balances.
  • Draft support terms, if any.
  • A recent estimate of the home's value.

Questions to ask before hiring

  • What is your NMLS ID, and which company do you work for?
  • How do lenders you work with treat support income and its timing?
  • Can you pre-qualify me before the settlement is final?
  • What documents from the divorce will an underwriter want to see?
  • Do you receive any compensation from referrals by other professionals?

Checking qualifications

  • Look up the individual and company on NMLS Consumer Access.
  • If they cite the CDLP designation, confirm it with the Divorce Lending Association. It does not replace a license.
  • California lenders may be regulated by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation or the Department of Real Estate depending on license type.

Limits of this role

  • A pre-qualification is not a loan approval. Rates and guidelines change.
  • A lender cannot advise on the legal effect of the settlement terms.

Providers & resources to explore

External organization listed for information only. No endorsement, partnership or referral. Checked on its official website on November 6, 2026; confirm qualifications, availability and local service directly.

  • Divorce Lending Association (Training and designation): Credentialing and education network behind the Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP) designation. Official website. Not a direct lender. Verify any individual loan originator on NMLS Consumer Access. Source checked 2026-11-06.

Frequently asked questions

Does removing my name from the deed remove me from the mortgage?

Not by itself. The loan is a contract with the lender. Usually the other spouse must refinance or otherwise obtain lender approval. Ask your attorney and lender how your settlement handles this.

Can support be used as income to qualify?

It depends on lender guidelines, including how long payments are expected to continue and documentation. A mortgage professional can tell you what their lenders require.

When should I talk to a lender?

Ideally before agreeing to keep the house, so the settlement reflects what you can finance.

Related topics

Primary resources

This page is general education for San Diego County residents. It is not legal, tax, financial or mental health advice and has not been reviewed by an attorney. External organizations named here are informational listings only: no endorsement, partnership, referral or ranking is implied, and qualifications, availability and local service must be confirmed directly with each organization.