Stacey Ellison: Certified Divorce Lending Professional

10/29/2026

Most mortgage professionals don't see a divorce file until the decree is signed, the agreement is locked in, and the damage is done. They get called in to execute.

I work the other way around.

As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), I'm on the divorce team from the first client meeting — alongside the attorney, the mediator, the financial neutral. Not at closing. At intake.

Because the marital home isn't a line item. It's where the settlement either holds together or quietly falls apart 18 months later.

Here's what I bring to the team:

→ Settlement-ready strategy that aligns legal intent with what the mortgage will actually allow
→ Mortgage Capacity Mapping™ — refinance, buy-out, and assumption scenarios in real numbers
→ Risk and fraud prevention on title, credit, and disclosure
→ Tax and equity clarity coordinated with the financial team
→ A post-decree housing plan that survives the first 24 months

Emotions drive divorce. Math protects the outcome.

If you have a divorce case with a home on the asset list, let's talk before the settlement language gets written — not after.

Message me directly or call/email to set up a quick consult. I'm happy to walk through how I work alongside your team.

10/27/2026

The house is on the table in almost every divorce. Who keeps it, how the buyout is structured, and whether the loan can be refinanced. Attorneys, mediators, and financial neutrals each bring something essential to those decisions.

Is your divorce team complete?

As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), I practice Divorce Mortgage Planning as an integral member of the professional divorce team. My role is to help test whether the housing plan being negotiated is one the parties can actually carry out.

I’m not there to replace anyone at the table. I’m there to work alongside you, so the decisions about the house are built on a clear understanding of what is financially feasible.

If you work with divorcing clients, I’d welcome a conversation about how we can work together.

10/22/2026

Approvable, sustainable, and affordable are three different questions — and a settlement that only answers the first one often produces a client back in court 18 months later.

This piece explains how one structured report evaluates all three before the decree, and how it's designed to be used by the attorney, the mediator, and the financial neutral on the same case.

If you've ever watched a housing term unravel post-decree, this will resonate: https://bit.ly/49cE665

10/20/2026

"Is this loan assumable?"

It's one of the most common questions I hear in divorce cases, and it often gets an accurate answer to the wrong question.

When someone calls the servicer and asks, the answer usually comes from the note, which covers selling the house to a buyer. But a transfer between spouses under a divorce decree follows a different set of rules. A correct "no" can still close a door the case never looked behind.

And even when the answer is yes, "assume the mortgage" can mean three very different outcomes. Only one of them actually releases the spouse who is leaving.

This article walks through the four questions that matter before a settlement agreement is signed.

Read it here: https://www.divorcelendingassociation.com/blog/is-the-mortgage-assumable-in-a-divorce-ask-this-instead.cfm

If you have a case where the house and the mortgage are part of the settlement, let's talk while the agreement is still a draft. As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), this is exactly the work I do.

10/17/2026

CDLP® is not simply a designation—it reflects a professional standard of care in divorce lending.

Housing decisions in divorce cannot rely on assumptions or best-case scenarios. Every provision involving real property must align with current lending guidelines before it becomes part of a settlement. Without that analysis, even carefully negotiated agreements may fail in underwriting and prove impossible to execute.

As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), my role is to bridge legal strategy and mortgage feasibility—providing clear, settlement-ready insight so outcomes are practical, executable, and sustainable.

For divorce professionals and homeowners alike, this article explains why early mortgage analysis is not optional—it’s essential.

Read the full article here:
https://divorcebriefings.com/4j0uajF

10/15/2026

If you're thinking about divorce — or already in one — here's a question most people don't think to ask early enough:

*Can I actually afford to keep the house on my own?*

Not "do I want to keep it." Not "can we negotiate that I get it." But, when the dust settles and I'm the only name on the mortgage — will the math actually work?

There's no shame in not knowing the answer. Most people don't, because mortgage qualification after divorce involves things you've never had to think about:

How long you've been receiving support payments. How a buyout affects your equity position. What debts get reassigned to you. What your income looks like *on paper* to a lender after the marriage ends.

A Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®) is specifically trained to walk you through all of it — in four phases, starting with a Discovery conversation that costs you nothing but might save you a lot of heartache later.

If you want clarity before you sign anything, reach out. It's what I'm here for.

10/15/2026

10/15/2026

10/13/2026

This time of year reminds us that letting go is part of every season.

As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), I often see decisions about the home being made before anyone has looked at what they will mean for the mortgage.

If you are going through a divorce, you are letting go of a lot right now. That deserves patience. What comes next deserves a plan.

Before you sign the settlement, find out how its terms will affect your ability to keep the house, refinance, or buy your next home. Getting those answers early gives you the chance to make choices with clear information rather than finding out after the agreement is final.

If you or someone you know is facing these decisions, I would be glad to talk through your situation.

10/10/2026

If your divorce involves the marital home, the decisions made today must be based on lending facts—not assumptions.
Many settlements outline terms that sound workable but cannot be completed under actual mortgage guidelines. This can prevent you from keeping the home, refinancing, or qualifying for a new property.

As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), I help you understand:
✔️ Whether you can qualify to keep or refinance the home
✔️ How support or employment income must be structured
✔️ How debt division affects your mortgage approval
✔️ Whether a buyout is realistically affordable
✔️ What timelines lenders require for refinancing
✔️ What title changes lenders will and won’t allow

Your settlement should support your long-term housing goals—not limit them.
If you’re unsure what’s financially possible or what housing options you should consider, I’m here to help you make informed decisions.