David M. Louis, MPA, CDFA®

David M. Louis, MPA, CDFA®

Illinois Divorce & Family Mediator | Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® | Collaborative Divorce Professional | Financial Neutral

Chicago & Northbrook | Serving Families Throughout Illinois | Virtual Mediation Available
________________________________________

Professional Overview

David M. Louis is an Illinois divorce and family mediator, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®), Collaborative Divorce Professional, and Financial Neutral who has helped couples resolve divorce and family disputes outside the courtroom since 2010.

David combines more than 45 years of financial management experience with more than 15 years of mediation and collaborative divorce experience. His financial background is particularly valuable in divorces involving property division, retirement and pension assets, real estate, investments, business interests, spousal maintenance, child support, taxes, liabilities, and future cash flow.

As a neutral mediator, David does not advocate for either spouse. He helps couples organize information, understand the financial and parenting issues involved, evaluate potential settlement options, and negotiate practical agreements tailored to their family's circumstances.

David's goal is to help couples make informed decisions while reducing the conflict, expense, uncertainty, and disruption frequently associated with divorce litigation.
________________________________________

Divorce Mediation & Financial Expertise

Divorce often requires couples to make interconnected decisions about property, income, retirement, housing, support, taxes, and parenting.

As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, David helps couples better understand the financial considerations associated with potential settlement decisions.

His work may involve:
• Marital and non-marital property
• Retirement accounts and pensions
• Real estate
• Investment assets
• Business ownership interests
• Assets and liabilities
• Spousal maintenance
• Child support
• Income and expenses
• Tax considerations
• Future budgeting and cash flow

David's combination of financial and mediation experience is particularly relevant for high-asset and financially complex divorces, where the long-term consequences of settlement decisions can be significant.
________________________________________

Collaborative Divorce & Financial Neutral Services

David also participates in the Collaborative Divorce process and serves as a Financial Neutral, working with couples, collaborative attorneys, and other professionals to clarify and analyze the financial components of divorce.

His work may include:
• Property and asset division analysis
• Asset and liability evaluation
• Retirement and pension analysis
• Income analysis
• Cash-flow projections
• Financial document organization
• Settlement modeling
• Long-term financial considerations

His objective is to make complicated financial information easier to understand so couples can evaluate their options and make informed decisions.
________________________________________

Parenting & Family Matters

In addition to financial issues, David helps parents address the practical decisions that accompany separation and divorce.

These matters may include:
• Parenting plans
• Parenting schedules
• Child support
• Child-related expenses
• Decision-making responsibilities
• Communication between parents
• Post-divorce family considerations

David encourages parents to develop practical, child-focused arrangements that recognize the needs of their children and the realities of maintaining separate households.
________________________________________

Mediation Approach

David believes the people who will live with the outcome of a divorce should have a meaningful role in determining that outcome.

His mediation approach emphasizes:
• Respectful communication
• Financial transparency
• Informed decision-making
• Child-focused solutions
• Practical problem-solving
• Customized agreements

Rather than deciding who is right or wrong, David facilitates productive discussions and helps spouses understand the issues and alternatives available to them.

The parties remain in control of whether an agreement is reached and what that agreement contains.
________________________________________

Professional Background

Before establishing his mediation practice, David spent more than four decades in accounting, financial management, and public administration.

He completed mediation training in 2006, established his mediation practice in 2010, and earned his Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® designation in 2012.

This combination of financial expertise and dispute resolution experience provides David with a distinctive perspective on divorces involving significant assets, complicated financial questions, and important long-term decisions.
________________________________________

Service Area

David provides divorce and family mediation services in Chicago, Northbrook, Cook County, Lake County, the North Shore, and communities throughout Illinois.

Virtual mediation is also available.
________________________________________