4 Mistakes to Avoid While Negotiating a Divorce Settlement

There’s no shortage of worries to deal with when you are involved in a divorce: You need to determine where you’ll live, whether you can survive on one income instead of two, how often you will get to see your children, and how you can make the process as easy for them as possible. You might also be concerned about the prospect of going to court, allowing a judge to make decisions that could have major impacts on your future.

The good news is that the vast majority of divorces never make it to trial. Spouses are often able to negotiate a settlement on their own or with the help of a mediator and experienced attorneys.

Still, even if both parties want to remain amicable, negotiations can be tense. It’s not easy to divide a household and separate a joint life, but when you understand some of the most common mistakes in negotiating a divorce settlement, you’ll have a much better chance of streamlining the process and securing a positive outcome for everyone involved.

1. Acting on Emotion

Just as there are plenty of worries and what-ifs to ponder during a divorce, many emotions are wrapped up in the process as well.

If you were blindsided by your spouse seeking divorce, you might experience pain, anger, grief, and an overwhelming sense of loss; if your spouse has moved on with another person, jealousy could be a factor as well.

Even if you asked for the divorce or it was a mutual decision, it’s natural to mourn the loss of love and the future you envisioned with another person, but strong emotional responses can cause you to act in ways that aren’t in your best interests and won’t help negotiations.

It won’t be easy, but try to process a flaring emotion in the moment, let it pass, and then focus on what you have to do to get what you want.

2. Hiding Assets

It can be tempting to hide assets you don’t want to split with your spouse, but doing so is illegal, and if your actions are uncovered, they can land you in a lot of trouble.

Michigan is a no-fault divorce state with a system geared toward the fair and equitable division of assets; nevertheless, such a stunt as asset hiding will give the judge latitude to award the assets in question to your spouse in full, along with a greater portion of your marital estate. On top of that, you could be held in contempt of court and face penalties like fines and jail time.

3. Refusing to Compromise

As the saying goes, it takes two to tango, and that’s true in relationships and negotiations alike. Getting what you want means you must be prepared to compromise, so prioritize your list of must-haves and consider what you’re willing to let go of to get those key concessions.

4. Going in Without a Strategy

Knowing your end goals can help you devise a strategy to reach them, and having an experienced divorce lawyer to guide you can get you closer to the favorable outcome you desire. If you’re seeking a qualified attorney to help you negotiate a divorce settlement, contact Gucciardo Family Law now to schedule your free consultation.