Striving Toward Agreement

Divorce mediation is all about negotiations. Chances are good you and your spouse both want different things in the divorce. You can work through those disagreements in divorce mediation, but doing so will take some finesse. Here are a few negotiation tips to help you reach your goals in mediation.

You can look at mediation with your spouse as a bargaining practice. You aren’t negotiating some arbitrary number. It is more give and take. What you take, your spouse loses. So, you need to look at divorce negotiations as bargaining. What are you trying to get from your spouse? How much are you willing to pay? What does your spouse want in exchange? These are the kinds of questions that can help frame your negotiations.

Negotiation Tips For A Fair Divorce

Nothing comes for free. Mediation requires some give and take. Did your spouse give you the vacation parenting time you want? Give something in return. This is how you can achieve a fair divorce.

Along those same lines, don’t expect to get everything you want and give nothing in return. Resist using ultimatums. Hardheaded tactics such as those slow down the mediation process.

Be clear about what you want from the beginning. Constantly bringing up new demands can put your spouse on the defensive. Jot some notes down on what you want and rely on your notes to guide you through your mediation sessions. Stay firm on those points but be willing to flex on others.

Negotiate in good faith. It is important to keep negotiations dignified.

Put strong emotions aside. Mediation is about negotiating an agreement. It is like a business deal. Being honest and open, firm yet flexible, and generally showing respect toward your spouse can help ease negotiations.

Success In Mediation

Mediation is a great alternative to divorce litigation. It is best suited for couples who want to do all the negotiations themselves. Don’t enter the process blindly. Use these negotiation tips to prepare you for your sessions. Mediation can be an amicable way to divorce if both spouses are respectful of the process. Speak with an experienced

Massachusetts mediator if you need more negotiation tips or have any questions regarding the mediation process.

Do you have questions about negotiating a settlement? If so, Mediation Advantage Services can help you. Experienced in divorce mediation, Law Office of Polly Tatum can help you and your spouse amicably negotiate a separation agreement.

Based in historic Worcester with a satellite office in Northboro, MA, our firm serves all cities and towns throughout Massachusetts and Worcester County including, Auburn, Paxton, Leicester, Sutton, Grafton, Shrewsbury, Westboro, Northboro, Southboro, Holden, Sterling, Princeton, Worcester, Charlton, Millbury, Dudley, Spencer, Brookfield, Sudbury, Natick, Framingham, Hopkinton, Milford, Blackstone, Leominster, Fitchburg, Acton, Jefferson, Barre, Oakham, Cambridge, Newton, Marlboro, Lancaster, Bolton, and Hudson.

Call our office at (508) 466-4679, fill out our online form, or email us at info@mediationadvantage.com today to schedule your Complimentary Mediation Success Planning Session. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter or download our free e-book for more information regarding divorce in Massachusetts.