This article was first published in the Florida Divorce Magazine and are reprinted here with their full permission.

"Is it worth spending the money to hire financial professionals -- such as a forensic accountant, a Certified Financial Planner, or a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst? If so, can my spouse and I share a financial professional?"

Seeking the advice of a financial expert is always a worthwhile choice. Other than child custody, most major issues involved in a divorce are financial in nature, whether they concern the separation of assets, spousal support (alimony), or child support. The decisions you make now will have consequences you may have to live with for the rest of your life. Any mistake can be very costly and may not be easily corrected once the court issues a final divorce decree.

A financial expert can help you understand the financial implications of identifying, valuing, and dividing real property, pension plans, and all other types of assets. He can analyze the cost and the tax consequences of selling, transferring, or splitting assets. More importantly, he can run projections that will address your short- and long-term financial needs and increase the chances of arriving at a settlement agreement that is financially feasible and acceptable to both parties. A financial expert also tends to bring some relative objectivity to what could become a very emotional process.

If you hire an attorney, they sometimes call upon a financial expert during litigation to support or refute a claim, to review certain facts, or to investigate and recover hidden assets (forensic accounting, etc.). One thing is certain; they will always include a waiver in their final settlement proposal stipulating that you were advised to seek outside independent financial and/or tax advice. Take them at their word!

You may choose to share a financial expert with your spouse. You need to understand that this option will work only as long as you trust each other and act in good faith. Generally, I believe that itıs best to look first for the assistance of a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA). Most CDFAs are either Financial Planners or CPAs and are the generalists, trained in all aspects of divorce, who can help you the most at a reasonable cost. A CDFA will identify and educate you about all the issues requiring your attention and propose solutions analyzing your short- and long-term needs. He or she should also suggest the involvement of specialists if and when necessary.