Tips for when they won't negotiate in good faith?
Typical abusive dynamic being spun as mutual high conflict, but I'm a licensed mental health professional so when I say I am divorcing a covert abuser who may actually fit the definition of a pedophile, I'm saying that based on some amount of expertise in the subject even though I can't diagnose my ex.
Currently I have sole custody after he disclosed CSAM use and he was already a registered sex offender. He hasn't been arrested because unless investigation reveals more concrete evidence of "possessing" materials, no crime was technically committed.
He believes he can get 50/50 custody by telling the court about an untreated mental illness I don't actually have.
He says he wants an amicable dissolution process, but 50/50 custody is a nonstarter.
His parents are wealthy and if they wanted to they could draw out a trial until I run out of money to pay my lawyer. My lawyer has advised against talking to his parents as they will be on his side no matter what, she thinks. He said he is a pedophile because of his sister so I wanted to be sure the parents realize if ex pushes this to a trial, his sister will have to testify about the behavior she did as a child that he is blaming his pedophilia on.
I am considering attempting to negotiate a settlement agreement because you have to use that process here even under these circumstances, but experience has shown he will use whatever I give him to thwart my goals or control me, so how the hell do you negotiate with someone like that?
Did you have to negotiate with someone acting in bad faith? How did it go and what advice would you give someone in that situation?