Negotiating with your former partner

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In order for any negotiation to be successful and fair to both of you:

when trying to reach agreement about contact with the children, be clear about what is in the child's best interests, but also be flexible and willing to compromise
both of you need to be realistic about finances and property - if there are not enough resources to meet everyone's needs, you will need to find a compromise that prioritises the needs of children;
both of you need to be open and honest when gathering together information about your finances;
you should have a clear idea about what you want and the options that are available - meeting with a solicitor at least once can help you do this; and
when an agreement is made, it should be clear, precise and written down (but written agreements should not be signed before you have received proper legal advice). If the written agreement is not clear, or if you or your ex-partner understand the agreement differently, this can cause disputes later on. Also see How can I make an agreement legally binding?

If it is not possible for you to come to a fair agreement between yourselves, a mediator may be able to help you.


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