Negotiation Tips for Collaborative Divorce in Atlanta

The negotiation process during collaborative divorce in Atlanta determines what happens after your marriage. As with all high-stakes negotiations, it makes sense to approach collaborative divorce in a strategic manner. Although this process revolves around compromises and good-faith negotiations, there’s nothing wrong with fighting for what you need. Consider speaking with an Atlanta divorce lawyer to learn more about negotiation strategies.

Determine Your Needs and Wants 

Before you even begin negotiating, it makes sense to clearly define your “needs” and “wants.” Although these two concepts might sound identical, needs and wants are distinct from one another. If you want something, the thing you desire is almost always very specific. This might be a particular item in your house that you want to keep after the marriage ends. Something you “want” is also usually something you can live without.

If you “need” something, your goal is usually much more abstract. Needs are also generally more vital for your well-being. An obvious example of a “need” is a basic necessity, such as food or shelter.

Once you determine your needs and wants, you can negotiate in a much more effective way. Generally speaking, you’ll want to focus on your needs rather than your wants. This approach makes you much more flexible, and it allows you to achieve your goals without being too focused on specific outcomes. For example, you might “want” the family car, but what you really “need” is a reliable way to get to work on time. This could lead to an outcome where you receive a certain amount of cash to purchase a new car.

Consider What Kind of Leverage You Might Have 

Experienced negotiators know how to use leverage. In order to use leverage during divorce negotiations, you must understand what your ex needs and wants. As a result, the first step in using leverage is to put yourself in your ex’s shoes. What do they care most about? What are their “pressure points?” If you can answer these questions, you may be able to use leverage effectively during the negotiations.

If you know that your ex wants something above anything else, you can use this to your advantage. In order to get the thing they want, they might be willing to make major concessions. For example, they might be desperate to keep the family home at all costs. If this is the case, you might offer to let them keep it if they hand over a disproportionate amount of other assets.

Note that your ex might also want to avoid something, and this could be their key pressure point. For example, your ex might be willing to do anything to keep the divorce out of the public record, perhaps due to embarrassing details. If this is the case, you could request major concessions in exchange for sticking with alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

Can a Divorce Lawyer in Atlanta Help Me Negotiate?

Your divorce lawyer will likely play a central role in the negotiation process if you have chosen collaborative law in Atlanta. In fact, your lawyer can negotiate on your behalf without much input from you. That being said, a greater understanding of basic negotiation tactics may help you approach this process with more confidence. Continue this discussion with Buckhead Family Law today.

Sources: 

journals.law.harvard.edu/hnlr/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/19HarvNegotLRev69-Kirgis.pdf

pon.harvard.edu/daily/negotiation-skills-daily/principled-negotiation-focus-interests-create-value/