Divorcing? Prepare to Negotiate

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If you are facing a divorce, you recognize that the stakes are high and that you face challenges ahead. What you may not recognize, however, is that the most important thing you can do to help ensure that your financial and parental rights are well protected is to prepare to do some heavy-duty negotiating. While there will be plenty of emotional highs and lows to come, the crux of your job is to be ready to make strategic compromises, understand your divorce priorities, and hammer out divorce terms that work for you and your children. (Click here to read more about parental rights)

Do Not Let Your Emotions Get the Better of You

You are preparing to negotiate divorce terms – not to ride into battle – and this means that it’s time to reign in those emotions. While no one can deny that the emotions associated with dismantling a relationship as monumental as marriage are difficult to contain, it is important to be in negotiating mode when you are dealing with the brass tacks of your divorce. In fact, if you allow them to, your emotions can get you into trouble. The bottom line is that you will either negotiate terms that you can both live with and agree to, or the court will do so on your behalf – with nary a concern for your emotions. It's better off around if you can keep your emotions in check and get down to what you came here to do – negotiate.

Related: Negotiating Tips for Obtaining a Favorable Divorce Settlement

Identifying Your Divorce Priorities

The best way to prepare for the negotiations ahead is to identify your divorce priorities, whatever they may be. First of all – while your divorce will not be exactly like anyone else’s – the terms that every divorcing couple must negotiate are the same, and they include:

Knowing where you are willing to make broader concessions and where your requirements are more settled is a big part of negotiations, and recognizing this distinction gives you far more leverage when it comes to negotiating terms.

It Is Never Too Early to Begin the Negotiation Process

Laying the groundwork for open, honest, and effective negotiations cannot begin too early in the divorce process. It is a good idea to reach out to your divorcing spouse and his or her divorce attorney as soon after filing as possible and let them know that you are here to negotiate – not to throw up roadblocks, not to do battle, and not to win. Having a winner takes all mentality can land you in court, while having your negotiation hat on can help pave the way toward a less contentious divorce that, nevertheless, supports you and your children’s best interests moving forward.

An Experienced Killeen Divorce Attorney Can Help

Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard in Killeen, Texas, recognizes that you want to keep your divorce as civil as you can – without sacrificing your rights or your divorce priorities. For more information about what we can do to help you, please do not put off contacting or calling us at 254-501-4040 today.

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