In this excellent blog posting, Katherine Miller writes about the first three critical steps in getting a divorce. These steps have nothing to do with negotiation. They are about understanding the problem and they are crucial to a good result.
Choose a path and commit to it. The overwhelming majority of divorce cases settle before the judge hands down a decision after a trial. The decision is not whether or not you’re going to settle, but how you’re going to do that. Will you settle because the terms make sense and you are ready to move on with your life?
Get perspective. Get an understanding of what the facts of your life are. You need to develop a shared understanding of your economic reality.
Get grounded. Deepen your understanding of what’s important to you and why. Then, once you more fully understand yourself (and not before), see if you can understand—not agree with, but understand—what’s important to the other person and why.
If you or someone you know could benefit from assistance in decision making during a divorce, contact Falmouth Mediation at 508-566-4159 for a free, no-obligation, private, confidential consultation. We will be happy to discuss the key details of your situation, address any concerns, and help you decide if divorce mediation would be beneficial.