--- title: Our Blog - AMF Divorce | Divorce Budgeting (4) description: Divorce Budgeting | From mortgage professionals to therapists to attorneys, the team at A.M. Financial works closely with these types of professionals. (4) --- ## A.M. Financial - [Services](https://amf-divorce.com/divorce-transition-services) - [Service Plan](https://amf-divorce.com/service-plan) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://amf-divorce.com/frequently-asked-questions) - [Our Blog](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog) - [About Amy](https://amf-divorce.com/about-amy) - [Contact Us](https://amf-divorce.com/contact-us) - [Services](https://amf-divorce.com/divorce-transition-services) - [Services](https://amf-divorce.com/divorce-transition-services) - [Service Plan](https://amf-divorce.com/service-plan) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://amf-divorce.com/frequently-asked-questions) - [Our Blog](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog) - [About Amy](https://amf-divorce.com/about-amy) - [Contact Us](https://amf-divorce.com/contact-us) [Book a Meeting](https://calendly.com/amymahlenmelander/consultdivorcefinancialplanning) Posts about # Divorce Budgeting (4) ## [3 Maintenance Options & What You Should Consider](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/3-maintenance-options-what-you-should-consider) June 01, 2022 As you go through your divorce, it may feel like you are gaining a whole new vocabulary as you learn about the different aspects and components of everything in separation agreements. Maintenance... [CONTINUE READING](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/3-maintenance-options-what-you-should-consider) ## [What is a Certified Financial Divorce Analyst?](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/certified-financial-divorce-analyst-a-m-financial) June 01, 2022 Going through a divorce can often feel lonely and confusing. Even if you know others who have been through a divorce, the process has evolved significantly in the last decade, and friends and... [CONTINUE READING](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/certified-financial-divorce-analyst-a-m-financial) ## [Will Spousal Support (Alimony) Continue to Be Tax Deductible in 2018?](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/will-spousal-support-alimony-continue-to-be-tax-deductible-in-2018) June 01, 2022 Currently, alimony is on the chopping block under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TJCA), meaning there would be no deduction provided for the paying spouse and the receiving spouse would no longer... [CONTINUE READING](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/will-spousal-support-alimony-continue-to-be-tax-deductible-in-2018) - - [1](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/tag/divorce-budgeting) - [2](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/tag/divorce-budgeting/page/2) - [3](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/tag/divorce-budgeting/page/3) - [4](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/tag/divorce-budgeting/page/4) - ##### About Amy With compassion and patience, Amy focuses on her client’s unique priorities to build a financial road map that provides clarity to make informed decisions today regarding the future. ##### Links - [Home](https://amf-divorce.com) - [Services](https://amf-divorce.com/divorce-transition-services) - [Our Blog](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog) - [About Amy](https://amf-divorce.com/about-amy) - [Contact Us](https://amf-divorce.com/contact-us) - [Schedule a Meeting](https://calendly.com/amymahlenmelander) ©2026 Copyright. All rights reserved. A.M. Financial provides supporting financial information, evaluation and analysis to be utilized by the client and the client’s selected attorney if directed, during the process of their divorce. ervices provided in regards to this agreement are solely fee-only and do not involve investment or security advice or insurance transactions. All information is financial in nature and should not be construed or relied upon as legal or tax advice. A.M. Financial IS NOT AN ATTORNEY AND DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE. Individuals are encouraged to seek competent legal and tax advice from professionals who specialize in divorce and tax laws in their respective state. Amy Melander (CRD #4692263) is an Investment Adviser Representative of OneDigital Investment Advisors, LLC (ODIA). ODIA and A.M. Financial are independent and unaffiliated entities. ODIA does not offer or provide divorce financial planning services and any statements and/or opinions expressed by A.M. Financial do not represent the views and/or opinions of ODIA.   This website is a publication of A.M. Financial. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date, but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. Content should not be viewed as personalized investment advice or as an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned herein. A professional adviser should be consulted before implementing any of the strategies presented. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "As you go through your divorce, it may feel like you are gaining a whole new vocabulary as you learn about the different aspects and components of everything in separation agreements. Maintenance is one of the topics you are sure to discuss and agree upon, no matter which type of divore you are going through. In this post, we do a deep dive into maintenance, what you can expect, options to consider, and the risks of those approaches. What is Maintenance? Maintenance is payments made by one spouse to the other that assist and support the recipient spouse. Sometimes maintenance is also called “alimony”. The details of how maintenance is structured is very state-specific and situation-specific. Some states, like Texas, rarely grant maintenance while other states more generously order maintenance, so it’s important to know state laws or work with an attorney in your local area. In Colorado, these payments are time-limited and based on the length of your marriage. Maintenance may be awarded because “earning power” is viewed as a shared marital asset. These payments are intended to even out income or earning power, post-divorce. Maintenance is based on the standard of living established in the marriage and paid based on the likelihood that each party can maintain a reasonably comparable standard of living. Court-mandated support from one spouse to the other is ultimately intended to provide for the receiving spouse’s financial needs until he or she can obtain the education or work necessary to provide for his/her own needs. In other words, it helps the lower-income-earning spouse “get back on their feet” and fully provide for him or herself. Some other details that are important to note: Generally, maintenance payments end if the recipient gets remarried unless agreed upon otherwise. Maintenance is paid in addition to child support if there are children. Maintenance payments impact child support amounts because these payments are counted as income for the receiving spouse. Due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), new maintenance agreements entered into starting in 2020 or after are a tax-free transfer. For agreements made prior to 2020, the payor receives a tax deduction and the recipient pays taxes on maintenance. How can Maintenance be structured? Not all maintenance is the same and there are 3 main ways maintenance can be structured: modifiable, contractual, and lump sum. Here are details and considerations of each structure: Modifiable As the name states, this structure of maintenance can be changed throughout the course of the agreement. Either party may file a motion to modify the original court order at any time and the payor is required to pay the court an ordered amount until a change is granted (which can often take months). Usually, a 10% or more deviation in the current maintenance amount is required before a change will be considered. This approach protects future changes in circumstances for either party that might impact their ability to pay an amount determined based on incomes of the past. However, modifiable agreements can be risky because they can cause continual post-decree conflict. Contractual In contractual maintenance structure, maintenance amounts cannot be modified, regardless of any changes in income or circumstances to either party unless otherwise agreed upon (such as disability, cohabitating, etc). This approach provides more stability and predictability for both parties. It can also provide protection to a spouse who is worried about post-decree litigation and conflict, especially if the divorce process has been full of disputes. This approach can be risky for both parties if the future earning power or health of the paying spouse is subject to change. Lump Sum As it states, in this approach, a spouse fulfills his or her entire alimony obligation at once, up front with a single lump-sum payment. This lump sum payment comes from assets, instead of monthly payments. This is only an option if there are sufficient assets available to pay the entire sum at the time of the divorce. The paying spouse might prefer to take care of maintenance immediately to avoid monthly communications with their previous spouse or anticipated ongoing conflict. This approach does keep parties out of court regardless of future financial changes and ensures the total payment is fulfilled without waiting month-to-month. That means no missed payments and court dates in the future. One large lump sum payment could create immediate problems if there is job loss and the paying spouse does not have adequate assets to provide for him or herself if they are left with minimal assets. There are no tax implications on the transfer for the recipient receiving lump sum payments (unless the asset itself has underlying tax implications in which they often do – A.M. Financial can help you with this complex issue). This approach definitely requires better money management skills for the recipient as the investment risk is transferred to the receiving spouse. For divorcees over the age of 59 1/2, a lump sum pre-tax retirement account can recreate favorable tax treatment of maintenance under the old law. In this situation, assets are essentially tax deductible to the payor and taxable to the recipient, creating more overall funds available to the whole family unit. Conclusion As you can see, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to maintenance and there are many factors to consider. Your choices around the way you structure maintenance have implications to your current financial situation and your financial future. A.M. Financial helps answer questions around maintenance approaches and how different choices lead to different financial management and outcomes. Schedule your free consultation by contacting us and learn more about how we can help.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Amy Mahlen", "sameAs" : "", "url" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/author/amy-mahlen" }, "dateModified" : "01/06/2022", "datePublished" : "01/06/2022", "headline" : "3 Maintenance Options & What You Should Consider", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/39875594/Imported_Blog_Media/qtq80-z5YfvY.jpeg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/3-maintenance-options-what-you-should-consider", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "" }, "name" : "A.M. Financial", "url" : "amf-divorce.com" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Going through a divorce can often feel lonely and confusing. Even if you know others who have been through a divorce, the process has evolved significantly in the last decade, and friends and family don’t always have the most up-to-date advice and insights to offer. That’s one of the reasons many parties are choosing to work with more specialists and advisors in the process than ever before. Choosing the right partners can make all the difference in achieving the outcomes you want in your divorce. One of the important specialists to consider is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), an advisor who holds one of the most desired and respected global divorce certifications. In this post, we’ll explore the role of a CDFA and how they can help you throughout your divorce. Training & Credentials A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst specializes in divorce finances in similar ways to a financial planner. However, while a financial planner is more of a generalist, a CDFA is trained specifically in divorce financial planning. In July 2020, the CDFA eligibility requirements changed to require a bachelor’s degree with three years of on-the-job experience, or five years of relevant experience if a CDFA does not hold a bachelor’s degree. Relevant experience must be in the fields of: Financial planning Family law Or experience in three or more of the following areas: Tax code Investment advisement or management Real estate, mortgage, or mortgage lending Life or disability insurance Financial therapy or coaching Based on these requirements, CDFA’s have deep experience and understanding of general finance along with specialized training around the financial dynamics of a divorce. Complementing other professionals CFDA’s work alongside attorneys and other important divorce professionals. However, attorneys are not financial professionals and are often not aware of specific intricacies surrounding tax, investment, transfer, and account regulations. Not to mention, you would not want them to bill you at their high rate to help with the financial support that is often needed throughout your divorce. Having a CFDA work alongside your attorney gives you access to specialized support and helps you feel comfortable making pressing financial decisions. A CFDA can serve as an expert in topics that may affect your long-term financial picture. He or she will often complete an analysis and provide recommendations on topics such as: Spousal or child support Dividing marital property/assets Proposing the value and division of retirement and pension funds Property limitations or requirements regarding the division of assets The economics of your divorce Setting financial goals and retirement objectives Divorce tax law, tax consequences, and tax liabilities Financial negotiation strategy Current and future cash flow (budgeting), and overall financial planning Specifically, CFDAs are helpful in divorces that are more financially complex, or those that require more education throughout the process (because one party isn’t as financially savvy or hasn’t been as involved in the finances). Choosing a CFDA Like the process of choosing any divorce professional as a partner in achieving the outcomes you desire, look for a CFDA who has related experience with similar types of clients, first and foremost. That way, they will offer relevant input and insights from firsthand experience. Check his or her qualifications to ensure a CDFA designation in addition to any additional certifications such as a CFPⓇ or ChFCⓇ.. Since many of the financial requirements of a divorce are state-specific, geographic experience is critical. Like any professionals you partner with, ensure you are aligned on preferred communication styles, whether that be weekly meetings, emails, phone calls, or a combination of the above. Referrals from friends, family, and your professional networks are always a good place to start. At A.M. Financial, we are a strong choice to partner with your financial needs with several prominent professional designations as well as over 15 years of experience supporting individuals and families with their financial planning needs of which 6 years working in the area of divorce. We know that each divorce is unique, and therefore we begin with a free consultation to understand your divorce specifics so we can best explain how we can support the outcomes you desire. Contact us to schedule that conversation today.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Amy Mahlen", "sameAs" : "", "url" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/author/amy-mahlen" }, "dateModified" : "01/06/2022", "datePublished" : "01/06/2022", "headline" : "What is a Certified Financial Divorce Analyst?", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/39875594/Imported_Blog_Media/qtq80-Onoc1l.jpeg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/certified-financial-divorce-analyst-a-m-financial", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "" }, "name" : "A.M. Financial", "url" : "amf-divorce.com" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Currently, alimony is on the chopping block under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TJCA), meaning there would be no deduction provided for the paying spouse and the receiving spouse would no longer have to claim payments as income for divorces finalized after 2017. Important topic to be discussing legal counsel, mediator and certainly your financial planner to ensure your long-term strategy. Amy can help review these changes with you to determine your best long-term financial solution if the bill passes as is! Contact us today or schedule a free initial consultation to review your situation.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "max.melomed@gmail.com", "sameAs" : "", "url" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/author/max-melomedgmail-com" }, "dateModified" : "01/06/2022", "datePublished" : "01/06/2022", "headline" : "Will Spousal Support (Alimony) Continue to Be Tax Deductible in 2018?", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/39875594/Imported_Blog_Media/e261dd_f92f6ff96f324246b327a9ddfd0829a7~mv2.webp", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/will-spousal-support-alimony-continue-to-be-tax-deductible-in-2018", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "" }, "name" : "A.M. Financial", "url" : "amf-divorce.com" } } ```