Your Words, Your Power: Build a Divorce Position Statement to Anchor the Deal (Financial Mediation)

In this video, Melissa Gragg—financial mediator and valuation expert—walks you through the most important tool you’ve likely never heard of: your divorce position statement. This one-to-two-page summary isn’t just paperwork—it’s your voice, your strategy, and your anchor in negotiations.

Step 1: Journal Your Story
Goal: Capture key moments from marriage to now.
When did you get married?
When did you separate?
When did key financial events occur (buying/selling a home, inheritance, business start, job loss)?
Were there any infidelities or major breaches of trust?

In this workshop - you’ll learn how to:

Tell your full divorce story using a simple voice memo (no writing needed yet!)

Turn that raw, emotional narrative into a clear, fact-based timeline using ChatGPT

Identify your top 3 financial and legal issues
Create a calm, strategic summary that guides your attorney, mediator, and legal team
Lay the foundation for a powerful and well-supported settlement offer

This isn’t just a document—it’s your blueprint for leading the divorce process on your terms.

1. What is a divorce position statement and why is it important?
A divorce position statement is a one-to-two-page written summary of your marriage timeline, key issues, and financial facts. It provides a calm, fact-based narrative that helps your attorney, mediator, and even the judge understand your situation. It anchors your negotiation strategy and ensures your voice is central in the settlement process.

2. How do I start creating a divorce position statement?
Start by recording your full story using a voice memo—from the moment you met your spouse to the current challenges. Include dates, events, red flags, and financial details. Then, use ChatGPT to summarize your narrative, extract your top three legal or financial issues, and draft your initial statement.

4. Can I use AI tools like ChatGPT to help write my divorce statement?
Yes! ChatGPT can help summarize your voice memo into a clear, unemotional timeline, identify your top issues, and even generate an outline of your settlement position. You remain the expert of your story—AI simply helps organize it.

5. Should I write the divorce statement myself or ask my attorney to do it?
You should write it yourself. No one knows your story better than you. By preparing your own position statement, you save legal fees, maintain control of the narrative, and present yourself as a well-prepared, reasonable negotiator in mediation.

6. How does this position statement help in mediation or court?
This document gets your entire legal team aligned and helps the mediator quickly grasp your case. It builds trust, sets the tone for productive negotiation, and shows that you’re organized and strategic. It can also be updated over time to reflect new developments or evidence.

Read more here

Melissa Gragg is a seasoned financial mediator and business valuation expert with over 20 years of experience. She specializes in helping couples and business partners navigate complex financial disputes during divorce and separation.

The Divorce Allies is a collaborative network of professionals dedicated to providing comprehensive support during the divorce process. Their team includes experts in financial mediation, high-conflict divorce coaching, mortgage planning, co-parenting education, and post-divorce transition. 

https://www.valuationmediation.com
https://www.thedivorceallies.com

Connect with Melissa:
Melissa Gragg  
Expert testimony for financial and valuation issues  
Bridge Valuation Partners, LLC  
melissa@bridgevaluation.com  
http://www.BridgeValuation.com  
Cell: (314) 541-8163