Definition
A Commission Disbursement Authorization (CDA), sometimes called a commission disbursement form, is a document a brokerage provides to the closing or escrow agent that specifies how the real estate commission should be split and paid out at closing.
It typically identifies the transaction, the total commission, and the amount to be paid to the brokerage and, where applicable, directly to agents or teams.
Why it matters
The CDA is what actually moves money correctly at the closing table. An error in the split or the payee can delay funding or send the wrong amount to the wrong party, so accuracy matters.
When commission plans, splits, and overrides are resolved consistently per transaction, generating an accurate disbursement is far less error-prone than re-calculating splits in a spreadsheet at close.
Related terms
- EscrowA neutral third-party arrangement that holds funds and documents until the conditions of a transaction are met.
- Closing DisclosureA standardized five-page form detailing the final terms and costs of a mortgage loan, delivered before closing.
- Transaction CoordinatorA real estate professional who manages the administrative and compliance steps of a transaction from contract to close.
Realm resolves commission plans and splits automatically per transaction, so disbursement is accurate at close.