Navigating a Divorce Settlement: Tips for Negotiating with Your Soon-to-be-Ex-Spouse

Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C. | Divorce
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    Dealing with a divorce settlement is never pleasant business. Emotions run high, and it can be tempting to leave the whole thing in the hands of your experienced Phoenix divorce lawyer. While doing so is always an option, you may be able to save time and money and get results that more closely match what you prefer if you first try to settle financial issues with your spouse.

    Talking to your spouse about who will get what in the divorce is a normal part of the process, and when done correctly, it can help you both separate your emotions from the need to protect both parties’ financial health. However, it’s wise to be prepared for some common situations that can arise during settlement talks and to handle them in the way that best protects your rights.

    Tips for Negotiating Your Arizona Divorce Settlement

    1. When Your Spouse Demands an Answer
      Ask to shelve the item until later, or ask where the two of you would stand if the “sticking point” wasn’t an issue at all.
    2. When Your Spouse Wants a “Ballpark” Number
      Don’t offer one. Naming a “ballpark” figure or a bottom line that you’re seeking from the divorce settlement doesn’t create a range, but a ceiling – and what your spouse will agree to may only go down from there.
    3. When Your Spouse Offers an Ultimatum
      Ignore it. Ultimatums often arise from stress or frustration, so simply letting them pass as if they weren’t said can defuse the tension. If necessary, you can also address an ultimatum by asking “How about I give it some thought?”

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    About the Author

    Heather Baker-Mushkatel

    Heather Baker-Mushkatel is a seasoned trial attorney who focuses on family law. In addition to her practice, Heather serves as a faculty member at the State Bar of Arizona College for Trial Advocacy and as a member of its Board of Governors, Rules Review Committee, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. An Arizona native, Heather earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School before returning home to practice law in 2004. Before she joined Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C., Heather practiced criminal defense with the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office.