Membership

Attorneys

• Have juris doctor and 3 years in practice of law with 75% focus in family law or 5 years in practice of law with 50% focus in family law.
• Complete 12 hour minimum Introductory Collaborative Practice Training or Introductory Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice Training (mediation training may be substituted for some portion of this requirement).
• Complete 4 hours of annual workshop sponsored by Charlotte Collaborative Divorce Professionals or CLE, workshop or equivalent for collaborative, mediation, alternative dispute resolution, communications or similar programs.
• Maintain good standing with the NC State Bar.
• Sign annual pledge accepting Mission of the Group and understanding of membership requirements.
• Timely payment of dues.
• Attend 50% of the meetings (group must hold a minimum number of meetings per year). If unforeseen circumstances prevent attendance at 50% of meetings, then must perform 2 hours of time in committee work (e.g., website, membership, program committee, publications/media), membership tasks approved by the Executive Board, or speaking engagements related to the Group’s mission.

Child Specialist

• Hold current License of PhD, PsyD, LCSW, LPC, LMFT, MD.
• Have 5 years of experience in child and family therapy.
• Complete 12 hours of introductory Collaborative practice training approved by the Executive Board of the Collaborative Group to gain an understanding of the Collaborative process.
• Complete 6 hours of training related to understanding the difference between a forensic and a clinical role.
• Complete 6 hours of training related to understanding the impact of divorce upon children.
• Sign annual pledge accepting Mission of the Group and understanding of membership requirements.
• Timely payment of dues.
• Attend 50% of the meetings (group must hold a minimum number of meetings per year). If unforeseen circumstances prevent attendance at 50% of meetings, then must perform 2 hours of time in committee work (e.g., website, membership, program committee, publications/media), membership tasks approved by the Executive Board, or speaking engagements related to the Group’s mission

Financial Neutrals

• Be in good standing in one of the following designations:
  • CFP – Certified Financial Planner; or
  • CPA – Certified Public Accountant.
• And be in good standing with the CDFA- Certified Divorce Financial Analyst designation.
• Have 3 years of experience servicing clients directly in financial areas such as: cash management and spending plans, retirement plans, taxes, investments, real estate, insurance, debt, individual and family financial planning concepts, etc.
• Complete 12 hour minimum Introductory Collaborative Practice Training or Introductory Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice Training.
• Sign Annual Pledge and the Charlotte Collaborative Divorce professional’s “Code of Ethics for Financial Professionals” (which specifically notes that Financial Neutrals will NOT promote or market their financial products or services to the client while he/she is in the divorce process – as required by the ethics to be a CDFA). In addition, through industry licensure and/or designation, fully comply with the ethical standards of being a full fiduciary operating in the best interest of the clients. Understand that this may at times disqualify you from handling a case’s needs (e.g. lacking core competency, conflict of interest, lack of liability coverage, etc.) and that you will have to disengage or introduce another financial professional to help with the disqualifying aspect of the case.
• Attend 50% of the meetings (group must hold a minimum number of meetings per year). If unforeseen circumstances prevent attendance at 50% of meetings, then must perform 2 hours of time in committee work (e.g., website, membership, program committee, publications/media), membership tasks approved by the Executive Board, or speaking engagements related to the Group’s mission.
• Agree to the following principles:
  • Devote a substantial portion of your financial practice to “divorce practice.”
  • Either have your divorce practice established as a separate business entity from other practices (e.g. accounting, financial advisory) or have all divorce-related compensation abide by the same manner a separate business entity would operate.
  • Product and/or investment advisory commissions and fees comprise zero compensation when operating as a Financial Neutral and the financial practitioner does not solicit to sell investment services or products to the clients of a collaborative case during the case.
  • Participate in a mentoring program with existing Financial Neutral members of the Group, as directed by the Executive Board.
• Timely payment of dues.