Breaking up with someone you once loved is never an easy thing to do, which makes divorcing your spouse even more challenging. After all, you legally promised to spend the rest of your lives together. However, the reality is that marriages do not always last. Divorce becomes the optimal decision when all your efforts to reconcile your differences do not work.
Divorce can be highly combative and emotionally overwhelming, but it can also be collaborative. Fortunately, Indiana allows couples to pursue a no-fault divorce, and neither of you will need to take the blame for the marriage ending. A no-fault divorce can pave the way for interest-based negotiations, where the ultimate goal is to find an agreement that benefits everyone involved.
Understanding interest-based negotiations
The first step of interest-based negotiations is identifying what you want from the divorce proceedings. You can talk to your attorney and tell them what property you want to keep and what kind of child custody arrangement you prefer. It is a matter of recognizing your needs and desires. The other party will do the same. Ideally, you both want the same outcome, and compromising will not be necessary. You both must express your interests concerning:
- Property division
- Child custody and support (if applicable)
- Alimony
You must remain levelheaded, objective, curious and creative, especially when disputes arise. Understand what the other party wants and why they want it. By learning each other’s main priorities, you can negotiate a creative exchange that lets you both keep what matters most.
Interest-based negotiation is the hallmark of a collaboration
A collaborative divorce can allow you and your spouse to enter formal interest-based negotiations with your respective legal representatives. It is so important that all parties involved commit to negotiate in good faith and make a sincere effort to use the process to reach a mutually beneficial settlement agreement.
