Reaching a settlement agreement in your divorce may be more challenging than you think. Especially when you have high-value assets, the settlement process may get contentious. When you and your spouse struggle to come to terms, mediation can help you avoid litigation and a courtroom challenge.
There are a few tips that can help make your mediation experience successful.
Approach mediation as a business transaction
Emotions run high in divorce settlements, making compromise a challenge. Treat the mediation process like a business transaction, separating the person and emotion of the situation from the decisions you need to make. Emotional separation helps you make rational, reasonable settlement decisions.
Know your boundaries
Set boundaries for yourself in the mediation process before it begins. Assess the assets and debts in the marriage, consider which ones are the most important to you and identify your top priorities. Those are your boundaries. Be ready to compromise on anything else in an effort to keep the things that matter most to you.
Prioritize your children’s needs
During your mediation process, keep your focus on what is best for your children. Prioritizing their needs helps to clarify the path for certain decisions and agreements. Customize visitation and custody agreements to meet your family’s unique situation, including school and sports schedules, work demands and your children’s preferences.
Separating your emotions from the process, setting clear boundaries and putting your children first help the mediation process go smoothly. Eliminate the emotional challenges and power struggles to come to mutually beneficial agreements.
