CDA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CDA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. If a divorced spouse qualifies for both their own Social Security retirement benefit and a divorced spouse benefit, Social Security will pay: → Whichever amount is higher
2. Under COBRA, how long may a divorced spouse typically continue group health coverage? → 36 months
3. What does 'marital property' typically include? → Assets acquired during marriage
4. A paying spouse retires at age 65 and seeks to terminate alimony. Courts will generally: → Evaluate whether the retirement was voluntary, reasonable, and in good faith
5. What is the tax treatment of life insurance proceeds paid to a former spouse as named beneficiary after the insured ex-spouse dies? → Generally received income-tax-free under IRC Section 101(a)
6. What is 'transmutation' in the context of divorce and real property? → The conversion of property from one classification to another, such as separate to marital
7. A self-employed spouse has no employer group plan. After divorce, the dependent spouse should primarily look to which option for health coverage? → ACA marketplace plan
8. Which of the following best describes a 'positional' bargaining approach in divorce negotiations? → Each party stakes out a firm demand and makes incremental concessions
9. A 'caucus' in mediation refers to: → A private meeting between the mediator and one party
10. When supporting a client through divorce, a CDA should understand that financial anxiety and emotional distress during divorce are: → Deeply interconnected, with each amplifying the other
11. Federal employees' health benefits (FEHB) after divorce — how long may a former spouse continue FEHB coverage under the Spouse Equity Act? → Until the former spouse remarries or turns 65, if enrolled within 60 days
12. A child support obligor moves to another state. Which law governs enforcement of the existing support order across state lines? → UIFSA allows the original order to be registered and enforced in the new state
13. What challenge is most commonly encountered in tax implications of divorce within Certified Divorce Advisor practice? → Resistance to change and difficulty maintaining consistency across stakeholders
14. What is a 'postnuptial agreement' and how does it relate to divorce proceedings? → A contract entered into during marriage that governs asset division if the marriage ends
15. What legal document initiates a divorce proceeding? → Divorce petition
16. A divorced spouse survivor benefit can be as high as what percentage of the deceased ex-spouse's benefit? → 100%
17. Which of the following is NOT typically a factor in calculating child support under income shares models? → The child's educational aspirations for college
18. What is the tax basis that a spouse receiving property in an incident-to-divorce transfer under IRC Section 1041 inherits? → The transferring spouse's adjusted basis in the property
19. During property division negotiations, a CDA notices one spouse repeatedly interrupts the other. The best immediate response is to: → Gently redirect by acknowledging both parties and setting a speaking turn
20. Which disability benefit is generally NOT divisible as marital property because it replaces lost earning capacity? → Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) future benefits
21. What does a 'lis pendens' recorded against marital real property signal to a potential buyer? → Litigation is pending that may affect title to the property
22. Which federal law most directly governs the division of private-sector pension plans in a collaborative divorce? → The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
23. In a collaborative divorce, which professional is BEST suited to help spouses develop a post-divorce parenting schedule? → A child specialist or mental health professional
24. A divorcing couple has a joint long-term care insurance policy. What is the most important immediate concern for the divorce advisor? → Determining whether the insurer allows the policy to be split into two individual policies
25. Under most state guidelines, which expense is typically handled as an 'add-on' above the base child support amount? → Unreimbursed medical expenses and work-related childcare costs
26. When courts distinguish between marital and separate property components of a business, which portion is typically treated as marital property? → Appreciation in value occurring during the marriage
27. Which attachment style, developed in adulthood, is associated with the most difficulty adjusting to divorce? → Anxious-preoccupied attachment
28. What does 'commingling' of assets mean in divorce property division? → Mixing separate property with marital property so they become indistinguishable
29. A spouse refuses to disclose retirement account balances during mediation. What is the CDA's most appropriate step? → Stress the importance of full financial disclosure and suggest a discovery process
30. Which of the following plan types is NOT subject to ERISA and therefore cannot be divided by a QDRO? → State government 403(b) or 457(b) plan