What must be done prior to a CDFA working on financial assets?

Before a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) can effectively work on financial assets in the context of a divorce, the critical step required is ensuring that the divorce has been finalized with a closing letter. This is essential because the closing letter signifies that all negotiations and settlements regarding the divorce have been settled, and any issues surrounding the division of financial assets have been resolved.

At this stage, the CDFA can focus on the specifics of how assets are to be divided and what the implications of that division will be on each party's financial future. Financial analyses conducted before the finalization may not provide a complete picture, as any changes or unresolved issues post-analysis could affect the asset evaluation.

While the other options may be important in broader contexts—such as having legal representation or an executor for estate matters—those do not specifically relate to the CDFA's role in analyzing financial assets post-divorce. The necessity of having a financial plan also does not directly pertain to the precondition of the divorce being finalized, rather it typically comes after legal resolutions.