Helping You Put Your     World Back Together  Glossary of Terms

Legal Terms

Attorney - An individual trained in the practice of law that espouses to the Divorce Connections Process to aid couples in the divorce process.  The Attorney addresses the legal issues that a couple faces in seeking a divorce.  The attorney utilizes problem-solving techniques and negotiation strategies that are not adversarial.  The attorney advises their client concerning applicable law and their effects on them and helps them draft agreements in the spirit of cooperation.

Mediation - A voluntary, private and confidential process, where a couple meets with a Mediator who helps facilitate their communication in order to access resources and negotiate agreements.

Mediator - A neutral, impartial person that is trained in negotiating, conflict resolution and communication skills.  The Mediator does not represent any party or take sides, nor does he/she act as an attorney, judge, coach or counselor.  He/she explains the mediation process to the parties, and assists divorcing couples to clarify issues, concerns, interests, needs and values.  The Mediator brings in and works with various Professional Members of The Divorce Connections as required by the circumstances.

The Divorce Connections Process - In this model, clients select either attorneys or a mediator to help them facilitate their no-court divorce process.  Other Professional Members of Divorce Connections are called in on an as-needed basis to manage the financial, emotional, physical and spiritual concerns as they arise during the divorce process. Central to this model is the idea that the clients and the professionals work together as a "team" with an attitude of cooperation and respect.

Pro Per - (Latin) - Literally means "do it yourself."  This term is often used in mediation and cooperative divorce processes to designate that clients have determined to represent themselves.  For example, when filing papers through a mediator, clients sometimes file "Pro Per."

Financial Terms

Accounting - The system of recording and summarizing business and financial transactions, and then analyzing, verifying and reporting the results.

Certified Divorce Financial Practitioner/Analyst - Already trained as either accountants, investment advisors or financial planners, Certified Divorce Financial Analysts receive specialized training to help divorce clients develop a fair and equitable financial settlement. Various scenarios based on different settlement options for dividing assets are explored. Spouses and their attorneys review these considerations.  All assets, debts, income and expenses, including but not limited to, health benefits, retirement plans, investments, home, stock options, alimony, child support, and tax implications, are factored into the financial models.

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) - An accountant who has met the requirements of state law, through appropriate education and training, and has been granted a certificate.  CPAs can audit finances, which can be vital to a fair and equitable property settlement in a divorce.

Financial Planner/Financial Advisor/Estate Planner - Certified professionals that work in the field of accounting, insurance or investments.  They advise clients on how to invest their money to get the best return on their dollar based on their own tolerance for risk.  They can facilitate retirement planning, long-term financial investment and life insurance needs.

Emotional/Mental Health Terms

Child Therapist - An experienced, licensed therapist with specific education and training in the expected behaviors, stages, challenges and tasks of the development of a child.  They work with the child (ren) to address specific emotional and practical day-to-day needs as they relate to the divorce process.  The Child Therapist also helps in designing the parenting plans that specifically address the defined needs of the child (ren) as they go through the restructuring of the family.

Divorce Coach – Typically a licensed therapist or counselor that teaches communication strategies that enable the divorcing couple to more effectively negotiate and solve problems in a cooperative manner.  The Divorce Coach also provides the couple with information on co-parenting concerns and helps them process the emotional ups and downs that can arise during the divorce process.

Therapist - A licensed mental health professional (Marriage and Family Therapist, Psychologist or Social Worker) trained in the assessment and treatment of emotional, personality and or relationship difficulties.  The therapist may function to help a person move through the transitions of the divorce process.  A therapist can also help individuals when they are facing emotions that may be overwhelming and interfering with day-to-day functioning. The therapist may also assist a client dealing with underlying core issues that are being triggered and surfacing due to being in the divorce process.

Psychologist – Psychologist is a legal term reserved for those mental health professionals who have a doctoral degree in psychology and at least 2000-4000 supervised work hours prior to licensure. The term therapist, on the other hand, is a non-legal term for anyone who practices psychotherapy and/or counseling and does not indicate any particular credentials, training, or licensure. All therapists representing Divorce Connections are either psychologists or licensed mental health professionals with a master’s degree.

Other Business Professionals

Actuary - Almost all actuaries are in the Insurance Industry.  They are trained mathematicians dealing with probabilities and evaluating the current financial implications of future inevitable events.  In the divorce process an actuary could be called upon to calculate the current assets of a couple and project what the worth would be at some future date.  He/ She may also answer questions such as:  How much would an unemployed person need in current assets to be equal to someone that has an established income?  What would be the equivalent and what would be the future result of splitting up current assets?  How long will a couple's assets last if they are split equally?

Credit Repair - A professional involved in repairing an individual's credit. He/She does more than just place the individual with a consumer credit agency, which arranges monthly payments to each creditor to whom a person owes money.  This professional works directly with the individual's creditors to negotiate a pay off agreement regarding the debt the client owes to a particular company.

Employment Specialist - Helps clients assess their marketability and their vocational skills to be successful in pursuing their chosen career path in the current job market. This professional can also help clients define their values, wants and needs as they pertain to the career/job the clients are seeking. The employment specialist aids clients in resume development and educates them in successful interviewing strategies.

Life Insurance Agent - A State-licensed, trained financial professional that represents a group of financial products.  These products can provide protection against the loss of a wage earner's salary due to death, provide money for burial and other final expenses, protect one's estate from liquidation due to estate taxes, provide funds for college, and accumulate a pool of cash for use in retirement on a tax-advantaged basis, among many other uses.  Proceeds are generally protected from creditors and income tax.

Mortgage Lender -  Provides financing for real estate and may have expertise in real estate, credit reports and budgeting.

Professional Organizer - A person that teaches individuals how to become more efficient in getting rid of clutter and developing systems for storing and retrieving information. Using solid techniques and methods, this professional can aid others to overcome procrastination, help those who find it difficult to throw anything away, and/or encourage those who find themselves chronically disorganized.

QDRO - (Qualified Domestic Relations Orders) - These are legal papers that direct Qualified Plan Administrators and Employers to divide retirement plan assets according to the agreement of the parties. A person, who specializes in handling QDROs can also file documents to protect Retirement Plan Assets during the divorce process.

Real Estate Appraiser – a state licensed individual specializing in performing appraisals on residential and/or commercial properties.

Realtor -  An individual trained and licensed to handle the buying and selling of property. This  professional is qualified to assist clients in filling out the necessary paperwork for any real estate transaction.  

Real Estate Broker - Is licensed by the State at a higher level of expertise than an agent and is able to have his/her own Real Estate Brokerage Firm. Brokers may supervise agents that work under them and can perform all the functions of a real estate agent.

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