Raising the Bar CLE

The Devil’s in the Details:

Court Orders & Real Estate in Family Law

(12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. PT)

Family law court orders frequently intersect with one of the most regulated industries in the world — real estate. Yet the language found in many orders often conflicts with the legal and procedural realities of real estate transactions.

From fiduciary duties and contractual guidelines, to Multiple Listing Service (MLS) compliance, title underwriting, and lender requirements, the real estate industry operates under strict frameworks rarely reflected in family law orders.

The result? Orders that are ineffective, unworkable, or even harmful to clients—despite good intentions.

In this interactive CLE, we’ll examine real court orders from family courts across the country and “spot the issues.” Through group discussion and practical examples, participants will learn how to identify and avoid common pitfalls, draft clearer language, and align orders with the realities of real estate compliance.

When court orders work in harmony with industry practice, clients are protected, transactions move efficiently, and attorneys reduce exposure to avoidable liability.

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

Identify common real estate–related issues within family law court orders that lead to conflict, delay, or client harm.
Understand how fiduciary duties, MLS compliance, contractual guidelines, title underwriting, and lender requirements impact the enforceability of court orders.
Analyze real-world examples of court orders to recognize problematic language and its downstream effects.
Apply practical strategies to draft and recommend order language that aligns with real estate law and industry practice.
Collaborate effectively with Certified Divorce Real Estate Experts (CDREs) and other professionals to ensure orders are both legally sound and executable.

Presented by: Laurel Starks

Court-Appointed Divorce Real Estate Expert and Founder, The Ilumni Institute

Meet the Presenter

Laurel Starks

Court-Appointed Divorce Real Estate Expert and Founder, The Ilumni Institute

Laurel Starks is a recognized and certified expert in divorce real estate, widely regarded by her peers as the pioneer of this specialized niche. An active Realtor since 2005, she has ranked among the top 1% of Realtors nationwide for more than a decade.

In 2017, Ms. Starks founded The Ilumni Institute, the national education and certification body for the Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert (CDRE®) credential. Through Ilumni, she leads the training and mentorship of hundreds of real estate professionals across the country who specialize in family law cases.

Ms. Starks serves as an experienced expert witness and trained neutral in family law matters involving real property and is frequently appointed by the Superior Courts of California in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties. She has handled more than 1,000 cases with a combined sales volume exceeding a quarter billion dollars.

In addition to facilitating the sale of real property, Ms. Starks advises, consults, and testifies in complex matters and provides fair market valuations, including those required for Moore/Marsden calculations. Recognizing the unique challenges of real estate in divorce, she developed a specialized listing protocol that anticipates, prevents, and mitigates conflict—streamlining efficiency and maximizing property value while maintaining neutrality.

Trained in divorce mediation under Forrest “Woody” Mosten and completing more than 45 hours of study, Ms. Starks was also the first known Realtor in the nation to complete Collaborative Divorce Team Training (2007).

The published author of The House Matters in Divorce, Ms. Starks is a frequent speaker and writer for state and national family law and real estate organizations.

Meet the Presenter

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