Table of Contents
Introduction1
Pathways to a Fast Divorce3
| International Divorce | 3 |
| Haiti | 3 |
| Dominican Republic | 4 |
| U.S. Quick Divorces | 5 |
| Guam | 5 |
| Divorce in U.S. States | 5 |
Ways to Move a Divorce Along Quickly9
| Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) | 9 |
| Uncontested Divorce | 10 |
| Simplified Divorce | 10 |
| Contested Divorce | 11 |
How to Save Money in a Divorce18
| Choosing Your Process | 18 |
| Traditional Divorce | 18 |
| Mediation | 18 |
| Collaborative Divorce | 19 |
| Uncontested Divorce | 19 |
| Lawyers | 19 |
| Off the Beaten Path | 20 |
| Experience | 20 |
| Small practices | 20 |
| General Practice | 21 |
| Avoid Big Names | 21 |
| Courthouse Proximity | 21 |
| Finding a Lawyer | 22 |
| Paralegals | 22 |
| Mediators | 22 |
| Mediator Background | 22 |
| Mediator Location | 23 |
| Working Together with Your Spouse to Reduce Costs | 23 |
| Shifting Legal Costs to Your Spouse | 24 |
| Replace Alimony with Legal Payments | 25 |
| Shift Legal Work to Your Spouse's Lawyer | 25 |
| Do-It-Yourself Divorce | 25 |
| Managing the Process to Hold Down Costs | 26 |
| Depositions | 26 |
| Paring Down the Witness List | 27 |
| Contact with Your Lawyer | 27 |
| Retrieve Financial Documents | 28 |
| Organize Evidence | 28 |
| Agree on Child Support | 29 |
| Division of Household Items | 29 |
| Reducing Other Costs | 30 |
| 401(k) Fees | 30 |
| Divorce Financial Planner or Forensic Accountant | 30 |
| Psychologist/Therapist | 31 |
| Service of Process | 31 |
| Selling Real Estate | 32 |
| Capital Gains Taxes | 32 |
| Tax Advice | 32 |
| Social Security | 33 |
| Appraisers | 33 |
| Parenting Classes | 33 |
| Change Utility Accounts | 34 |
| Close Joint Accounts | 34 |
| Do Your Divorce in Pieces | 35 |
Information for Financial Planners36
Course Details
Author: Brette Sember, J.D.
Brette Sember B.A., J.D., is an editor, author, freelancer, ghostwriter, book coach, content expert, and consultant with 25+ years of experience.
As a former lawyer, Brette specializes in branded legal content for legal information sites, online legal services, legal marketing agencies, and law firms.
She is experienced in editing and enhancing AI-generated content.
In her career she has created and edited content on a wide variety of topics including law, food, travel, health, travel shopping, parenting, divorce, business, books, lifestyle, pregnancy, education, learning skills, women’s and family issues, finance, writing, children’s books, senior issues, entertainment, and more. She has been published in hundreds of magazines and websites including LegalZoom, FindLaw, Forbes Advisor, NextAvenue, Investopedia, American Baby, ePregnancy, Divorce Magazine, Fit Pregnancy, Healthy Women, Paste Magazine, The Mid, Pregnancy, Writer’s Digest, Zester, Salon, Money Geek, Hello Giggles, Avvo Stories, Willing, Mental Floss, and many, many more.
She is an expert for Divorce.com and WomansDivorce.com. She is a contributor for travel sites GoGirlfriend.com and MyItchyTravelFeet.com. She was a columnist for four different regional parenting magazines and was a staff writer for several web sites. She was a legal editor for Forbes Advisor. Brette’s personal essays have appeared on Woman’s Day, Scary Mommy, Purple Clover, and more. She also frequently writes humor lists.
In addition to writing content for specific sites, Brette has worked with agencies such as Marcus Thomas, Elite Lawyer Management, Virtuoso Content, Trellis Marketing, and The Rainmaker Institute to produce custom content for a variety of clients in a variety of industries.
Publication/Revision Date: 8/18/2026
Course Exam Questions (online): 10 (multiple-choice)
Program Delivery Method: Self-Study
Available Formats of Course Text: PDF or PDF plus printed copy sent in the mail
Course Level, Prerequisites, and Advance Preparation Requirements
| License | Course Level | Prerequisites | Advance Preparation Requirements |
|---|
| CDFA® | Overview | None | None |
* This program is appropriate for professionals at all organizational levels.
Sponsor ID Numbers
Registered with the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts
Learning Objectives
As a result of studying the course material, you should be able to meet the objectives listed below:
- Understand the pathways for obtaining a fast divorce
- Identify ways to speed up a divorce
- Identify the ways to save money in a divorce
- Understand how you can help clients plan for a fast and cheap divorce
