When to Negotiate.

The toughest part about a divorce with children is that you are forced to negotiate with your spouse on highly important and sensitive matters.  The standard practice of offer and counter offer creates its own set of problems as both sides feel like they are giving up too much and being taken advantage of.  Even though you no longer want to be with your spouse, you do want to be with your children.  Negotiation needs to start with finding out what is important to the other party and why its important.  Mediation often helps this problem out, but that is usually after litigation positions have been taken.  It is best to try and negotiate with a lawyer present who does not represent either party, but represents the process.  This should be done prior to filing divorce papers and positions are taken.