About Empowered Divorce

Francisco A. Laguna, JD, CDFA

Empowered Divorce LLC founder, Francisco Laguna, is an experienced family mediator who routinely mediates financial and tax-related matters as well as all other issues related to separation and divorce. He holds a law degree and is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), a designation focusing on the tax and planning issues affecting divorcing parties.

Francisco helps clients and their counsel with divorce financial settlements and separation agreements, from the tax and financial perspective. He also determines the tax consequences of any property transfers involved and helps set an appropriate level of alimony and child support.

For cases involving international parties, he facilitates the impartial valuation of foreign property and assets. Francisco also conducts financial document reviews to distinguish pre-/non-marital and marital assets, as well as to address dissipation claims.

Francisco is certified in the discipline of Collaborative Divorce: a team approach to divorce that includes attorneys, mental health professionals and financial specialists.

Francisco also helps couples in relationships—including same-sex partners— discuss financial issues and goals, including terms for joint property ownership and subsequent buy-outs.

Some of Francisco’s seminar presentations, lectures and publications

Center for ADR:

Finances: An Integral Part of Divorce, 2014 Annual Meeting, June 2014

Participant Comments:

• Great workshop!
• Excellent content and handouts

Advanced Tax Issues Related to Divorce, 2011 Family Section Conference, Minneapolis, MN, July 2011 (4 hour session)

Taxes and Divorce, 2008 Family Section Conference, Park City, UT, July 2008

Association of Conflict Resolution:

Advanced Tax Issues Related to Divorce, 2011 Family Section Conference, Minneapolis, MN, July 2011 (4 hour session)

Taxes and Divorce, 2008 Family Section Conference, Park City, UT, July 2008

Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution, Greenbelt, Maryland:

Tax & Financial Planning for Divorce: A Comprehensive Review, 2013 Annual Meeting, June 2013 (3 hour session)

Usually, It’s all about the Money, 2012 Annual Meeting, June 2012

Participant Comments:

• Superb, bringing to vibrant live a very tedious subject and excellent take-away copies of very helpful screens
• Excellent presentation. Please have him back next time.
• This class was presented in an excellent way.

Superior Court of the District of Columbia

Finances: An Integral Part of Divorce, Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division, April 2014

Money and Divorce, Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division, May 2012

Participant Comments:

• Very knowledgeable and possesses the ability and skill to present a complex topic in simple terms.
• Excellent content throughout and very responsive to questions.
• His explanations were most valuable and the fact he answered all questions.

Virginia Mediation Network

Usually, It’s all about the Money, 2012 Fall Conference, Wintergreen, VA, October 2012 (4.5 hour session)

Participant Comments:

• Exhaustive, challenging detail and comprehensive. Extremely helpful, new info.
• One of the best I have attended.
• Really appreciate his knowledge and expertise.