Collaborative Divorce: Interest Based Negotiation vs. Position Based Negotiation
Interests are different from positions. A position generally has only one possible answer – who will get the house? Me or my spouse.
An interest has a number of possible answers – I want to receive the house in our divorce because:
- it’s close to our children’s school;
- it’s close to my work;
- my parents live in the neighborhood;
- our monthly mortgage payment is low;
- I don’t have the income necessary to qualify for a new mortgage;
When we listen, and work to identify the interests of you and your spouse, we are able to form a basis to create many different settlement options that satisfy the needs of both of you. We can work to create a fair solution.
We don’t have to limit our solutions to I win, you lose.
The Collaborative divorce process helps us to create fair and amicable settlement agreements that address the goals, concerns, and interests of you and your spouse.
This is drastically different than the litigated approach to divorce, which pits you against your spouse. The positional litigation approach often times results in a long drawn-out legal battle over your home, your retirement accounts, or some other issue. Litigation does not provide you with the tools that you need to stop and listen to your spouse, and to your professional team to explore the interests behind why you or your spouse really wants or needs the house, or a specific retirement asset, or financial support, or a certain time-sharing schedule with your children, or some other outcome.
Collaborative divorce provides you with the benefit of slowing down and working through a number of different outcomes through a different lens.
- What do I need?
- What does my spouse need?
- What does the law say is fair under our circumstances?
- How can we come up with a custom solution?
- How can I work through this divorce process in a peaceful and private manner?
If you, or a friend of yours, has questions about Collaborative divorce in Palm Beach County, we are here to help.
Chad Layton, Esq.
(561) 537-8227
Office Located At:
205 Worth Ave.
Suite 303
Palm Beach, FL 33480
Phone (561) 537-8227
Office E-Mail: Chad@mindfuldivorcepa.com
Office Website: https://www.mindfuldivorcepa.com
