Make Sure Your Divorce Settlement Is Actually Executable.

Divorce is one of the most significant financial transitions you will ever navigate. In Florida, the marital home is often the largest asset involved. The decisions made about that home will shape your financial stability long after the legal process ends.

If you are dealing with a divorce mortgage in Florida, the most important question is not:

“Can I refinance?”

It is:

“Is my settlement agreement actually executable under current lending guidelines?”

A judge can order a refinance.
A court cannot order a lender to approve it.

That distinction is where many families encounter unexpected financial stress.

My role is to help you avoid that outcome.

 

Meet Racheli Refael

I have been in the mortgage industry since 1995.
In 2010, I became a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®) after seeing too many individuals blindsided by avoidable mortgage problems during divorce.

I am collaboratively trained and work within collaborative divorce, mediation, and litigation frameworks. I understand how legal strategy and mortgage underwriting must align.

Why I Specialized in Divorce Mortgage Planning

Clients were coming to me after they had already signed their divorce settlement agreements.

They needed to:

• Refinance to remove a spouse from the mortgage
• Buy out equity from the marital home
• Qualify using alimony or child support
• Purchase a new home after divorce

Too often, they did not qualify to do what the agreement instructed them to do.

The result was frustrating, emotional, daunting, and expensive.
Sometimes it meant a forced sale of the family home.
Sometimes it meant returning to court to modify an agreement.
Almost always, it meant unnecessary stress.

That is why I chose to specialize.

Your attorney may get you to agree to a settlement on the home, but did he/she check that you can actually  qualify to do what you agree to do? Time and time again the attorneys don’t check and frankly they are not trained on mortgages. That’s where I come to make sure that you sign on something you can execute.
I shared this challenge with a family law attorney of +50 years. Do you know what he told me?
“We the attorneys are committing malpractice unknowingly”
WOW - this is a strong statement wouldn’t you agree?
He further added:”You need to be involved right from the beginning of the process”. I agree.

That’s why I want to bring this information to you before you discover you made a mistake.

My goal is to provide clarity and structured guidance before settlement terms are finalized, protecting both individuals and the professionals supporting them.

 

Racheli’s Credibility & Experience

Mortgage Industry Experience Since 1995
Certified Divorce Lending Professional Since 2010
Collaboratively Trained in Divorce Financial Strategy
Decades of Florida Lending and Underwriting Experience

This is not a standard refinance conversation. It is a structured financial transition.

 

What Is a Divorce Mortgage Strategy in Florida?

A divorce mortgage strategy is a structured financial plan that determines whether real estate decisions in your divorce are financially viable.

It may involve:

• Keeping the marital home
• Structuring a buyout refinance
• Removing mortgage liability
• Using support income to qualify
• Preparing for a post-divorce home purchase

Florida is an Equitable Distribution state. While distribution may be fair, it is not automatically financeable.

Mortgage underwriting follows federal and investor guidelines. Settlement language must align with those rules.

Without planning, even a well-drafted agreement can fail at the execution stage.

 

Florida-Specific Considerations That Matter

1. Homestead and Property Tax Implications

Florida’s Save Our Homes cap protects homeowners from large annual assessment increases. Certain ownership transfers can trigger reassessment, increasing property taxes significantly.

This must be reviewed before the title is transferred.

 

2. Support Income Qualification

Alimony and child support may count as qualifying income, but underwriting requires documented receipt history and proof of continuance.

Timing and settlement wording matter.

Improper structuring can delay qualification when time is critical.

 

3. Liability vs. Title

A Quitclaim Deed removes someone from title.
It does not remove them from the mortgage.

True financial independence requires removing both title and debt liability.

This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of divorce real estate.

 

Who This Page Is For

This page is primarily for individuals in Florida who:

• Want to keep the marital home after divorce
• Need to refinance within a court-ordered timeframe
• Must calculate and fund a buyout
• Are self-employed and concerned about qualifying
• Plan to rely on alimony or child support
• Want to purchase a home after divorce

I also coordinate with divorce attorneys and financial professionals to ensure mortgage feasibility aligns with settlement strategy.

But first and foremost, this is about protecting your financial stability.

 

The 5-Step Divorce Mortgage Framework

Every divorce mortgage review follows a structured evaluation:

1. Financial and equity analysis
    

2. Feasibility review of keeping the home
    

3. Buyout calculation and funding structure
    

4. Income qualification review
    

5. Coordination with settlement execution and refinance
    

→ INTERNAL LINK: Process Page Here – /divorce-mortgage-process-florida/

A detailed breakdown of each step is available on the Divorce Mortgage Process page.

 

Common Divorce Mortgage Questions

Can I refinance before my divorce is final in Florida?
It depends on documentation and settlement timing.

Can child support count as income?
Yes, if properly documented and structured to meet underwriting guidelines.

Can I remove my spouse without refinancing?
No. Removing title does not remove mortgage liability.

→ INTERNAL LINK: FAQ Page Here – /divorce-mortgage-florida-faq/

For a comprehensive list of technical divorce mortgage questions and answers, visit the full FAQ page.

 

Real Divorce Mortgage Scenarios

Every situation is different. Common structured outcomes include:

• One spouse keeps the home and completes a buyout refinance
• Support income is structured properly for qualification
• A self-employed spouse qualifies using adjusted documentation
• Selling becomes the financially stable path forward

→ INTERNAL LINK: Case Studies Page Here – /divorce-mortgage-case-studies-florida/

Review real-world Florida divorce mortgage scenarios to see how structured planning prevents costly mistakes.

 

Before You Sign, Make Sure It Works

Divorce is already emotionally complex. Your housing stability should not become the next crisis.

Before signing a settlement agreement that requires refinancing, buyouts, or property transfer, ensure it is financially executable under real-world lending guidelines.

Watch a podcast with a Certified Divorce Lending Planner, a family law attorney, and a Realtor. This will gain you some insights on the process, examples, and guidance.
Insert youtube link

Or Schedule a Divorce Mortgage discovery call only 15 minutes
Review Before You Sign
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