Most divorces cases reach a negotiated resolution, meaning that the parties involved avoid costly and time-consuming litigation. This can be a beneficial to you for a number of reasons, but you should realize that just as much preparation needs to go into your settlement negotiations as your litigation. If you don’t adequately prepare, then you could be taken advantage of and wind up facing otherwise avoidable post-divorce challenges. Here are some ways that you can protect your interests during negotiations:
- Know what you need: If you need a car or a residence post-divorce, then you should use these to set the bounds of your negotiations. In other words, these are essentially going to be your non-negotiables.
- Know what you want: By identifying those assets and child custody arrangements that you want, you can steer the direction of your negotiations.
- Know what your spouse wants and needs: By figuring out what your spouse wants and needs, you can identify areas of opportunity where you can leverage certain assets to your advantage.
- Know the facts: You need an accurate picture of your financial standing and the financial standing of your marriage. Only then can you effectively negotiate for the outcome that is best for you.
- Know the law: By knowing how a judge will assess your case, you can make stronger arguments to support your position at the negotiation table.
- Be mindful of tone: A lot of people use negotiations as a way to air their grievances, but this can stall negotiations and make it more challenging to find resolution. That being said, it’s okay to be assertive.
Divorce is stressful in its own right. You shouldn’t make it any harder than it needs to be. That’s why you should prepare your position as fully as possible before discussing resolution. We think that by doing so you’ll find yourself to be more confident in your divorce proceedings and hopeful for the future.