Collaborative Divorce Financial Planning In New Jersey

Clear financial analysis for couples who choose to resolve their divorce respectfully, outside of court, with a full professional team.

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FiduciaryLegally obligated to put your
interests first
CFP^®Certified Financial Planner professionals
CDFA^®Certified Divorce Financial Analyst professionals
Red Bank, NJLocal advisors rooted in
Monmouth County
50+ YearsCombined advisory experience

The Financial Side Of A Collaborative Divorce

In a collaborative divorce, both spouses and their attorneys sign a participation agreement committing to resolve every issue through structured meetings rather than litigation. Neutral professionals, including a financial specialist, join the team so decisions are made with complete, shared information.

That is where we come in. As Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals based in Red Bank, we can serve the financial role on a collaborative team: gathering and organizing full financial disclosure, valuing assets after taxes, and modeling settlement scenarios both spouses can evaluate side by side.

The result is a process where negotiations run on one set of verified numbers, which keeps conversations productive and helps couples reach durable agreements. Doug Lyons draws on his own collaborative cases in his article Emotional Bias in New Jersey Divorce: Avoid These Costly Mistakes.

Collaborative Divorce vs. A Contested Courtroom Battle

Why the financial side of divorce deserves a neutral expert, shown across the four things that matter most. Higher bars mean more cost, more time, greater privacy exposure, and higher conflict.

Collaborative divorce Contested courtroom divorce

Figures are illustrative, indexed benchmarks with a contested courtroom divorce set to 100 on each measure, not guarantees of any individual outcome. A neutral financial expert helps keep cost, time, exposure, and conflict on the lower side.

Lower cost

Collaborative divorce typically costs far less than a contested courtroom battle.

More privacy

Your finances stay out of public court records and settled around a table.

Less conflict

A shared set of facts reduces the disputes that drag divorces out for years.

A Calmer, More Transparent Way To Divide Your Finances

Collaborative divorce financial planning is a process where both spouses work with a single neutral financial professional to reach a fair settlement outside of court.

Instead of two sides fighting over spreadsheets, a collaborative divorce brings everyone to the same table: each spouse, their collaboratively trained attorney, and shared neutral experts. As the financial neutral, our Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) organizes the full financial picture, models how different settlement options play out over time, and helps both spouses understand the long-term impact of the choices in front of them.

At Oceanic Capital Management, we bring this work to families across Red Bank, Middletown, Monmouth, and Ocean Counties. Because we are a fee-based fiduciary firm, we are legally obligated to act in your best interest, and in a collaborative divorce that means giving both spouses the same clear, unbiased numbers to work from.

How We Help In a Collaborative Divorce

As your financial neutral, we handle the numbers so your legal team can focus on the agreement. Every engagement is tailored, and typically includes the following.

Full financial inventory

We gather and organize every asset, debt, account, and income source into one clear, shared picture, so both spouses and both attorneys work from the same complete set of facts.

Settlement scenario modeling

We project how different proposals play out over five, ten, and twenty years, so both spouses can compare options on an after-tax, real-world basis before anyone commits.

Tax-aware asset division

We flag the tax consequences of splitting retirement accounts, the marital home, and investment assets, so a settlement that looks even on paper is actually even after taxes.

Support & cash-flow analysis

We build realistic post-divorce budgets and model alimony and child support so both households are workable, and the numbers behind any support figure are transparent to everyone.

Home & real estate guidance

Keep the house, sell it, or buy out a share? We quantify the true cost of each path, including upkeep, mortgage, and lost investment growth, so the decision is grounded in numbers.

Post-divorce financial plan

Once the settlement is final, we help you rebuild: updating retirement projections, beneficiaries, and investment strategy so you move into your next chapter with a clear plan.

Why Couples Choose Our Team

A collaborative divorce works best when the financial professional is credentialed, neutral, and experienced with the process. Our team brings all three.

We are an independent Registered Investment Advisory firm in Red Bank, and we have spent decades helping New Jersey families make sound financial decisions through major transitions.

Fiduciary Standard Of Care

As an independent Registered Investment Advisory firm, our advisory recommendations are made in your best interest, with advice designed around your goals rather than product sales.
CDFA® Divorce Training

Our team holds the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® designation, training focused specifically on the financial side of the divorce process.
A Team Approach

We work alongside your attorney or mediator, organizing financial data, building long-term projections, and modeling settlement scenarios.
Local To Monmouth County

We meet clients in person at our Red Bank office on Half Mile Road, or virtually, wherever you are in the process.

Douglas J Lyons, CFP®, CFA®, CDFA®

Managing Director

A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® with more than 30 years of wealth management experience, including prior roles with UBS Private Wealth Consultants and Merrill Lynch's planning team. Doug leads our divorce financial planning work, from settlement analysis to post-divorce rebuilding.

Thomas H. Yorke, CFP®

Managing Director

A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with more than 30 years of institutional and retail investing experience across EF Hutton, Lehman Brothers, and Refco Securities, focused on portfolio construction, fixed income, and diversification. A lifelong Monmouth County resident.

Request A Collaborative Divorce Consultation

If you and your spouse are considering the collaborative process, we would welcome a conversation about the financial role on your team. Schedule a time that works for you, or call our Red Bank office to get started.

Request A Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a collaborative divorce?

A collaborative divorce is a structured process in which both spouses and their specially trained attorneys sign a participation agreement committing to resolve all issues outside of court. Neutral professionals, often including a financial specialist and a family specialist, support the process. New Jersey recognizes the process under the Family Collaborative Law Act.

What does the financial professional do in a collaborative divorce?

The financial professional gathers and organizes both spouses' financial disclosure, values assets on an after-tax basis, prepares budgets and long-term projections, and models settlement scenarios so the couple can compare options with clear numbers. The goal is one shared, verified financial picture for the whole team.

Is collaborative divorce legally recognized in New Jersey?

Yes. New Jersey enacted the Family Collaborative Law Act in 2014 (N.J.S.A. 2A:23D-1 and following), which sets out how the collaborative process works in the state, including the participation agreement and the requirement that collaborative attorneys withdraw if the process ends without a settlement.

What happens if the collaborative process breaks down?

If either spouse leaves the process or the couple cannot reach agreement, the collaborative attorneys must withdraw, and each spouse retains new counsel for litigation. This disqualification rule is central to the process because it keeps everyone invested in reaching a settlement.

Is collaborative divorce right for us?

Collaborative divorce tends to fit couples who want privacy, more control over the outcome, and a respectful process, and who are both willing to share information openly. It may not fit situations involving hidden assets or an unwillingness to negotiate in good faith. We are happy to discuss whether the process suits your circumstances.

Do you work with our attorneys, or do we hire you separately?

Both paths are common. Some couples are referred to us by collaborative attorneys assembling a team; others speak with us first and we can help them understand the process before they retain counsel. Either way, we serve in the financial role and coordinate closely with the attorneys on the team.