By crafting a clear set of priorities early in the divorce process, an individual can approach the negotiating table or, if necessary, the courtroom with greater confidence.
You can better focus on your actual wants and needs during negotiations
By understanding your long term goals, one’s strategic approach to asset division can be far more focused and effective. Say that you and your spouse have decided to part ways and you have decided that your greatest priority is to try to maintain the marital residence. You have also worked out that the only asset you would prefer not to bargain away in pursuit of the marital residence is your interest in your retirement fund.
By taking conscious notice of your greatest desire and your greatest need (or set of needs and desires), you’ll have room to craft a strategy that is strongly positioned to secure those assets on your behalf. If, by contrast, you begin negotiations or litigation preparation with no clear sense of your priorities, you’ll be more likely to risk your financial stability moving forward on decisions made in the heat of the moment.
At the end of the day, there is no strategic substitute for knowing what you truly want, what you’re willing to sacrifice to get it, and seeking legal guidance accordingly.