# What if you didn't have to face your spouse to negotiate your divorce? > Source: https://ongoodterms.ai/journal/what-if-you-didn-t-have-to-face-your-spouse-to-negotiate-your-divorce > Published: Oct 25, 2026. Updated: Oct 27, 2026 > Author: Jennifer Paddock, Co-Founder, On Good Terms > Publisher: On Good Terms (Pty) Ltd, South Africa > Topics: Opinion *Divorce negotiations can be emotionally brutal, especially when you're sitting face-to-face with the person you're separating from. Believe me, I've been there. Looking back, I genuinely believe that negotiating in person made it harder for us to reach agreement, not easier. That's why we've designed On Good Terms differently — giving separating couples the space to work towards agreement without having to face the arguments, confrontations and emotional intensity of negotiating in person and in real time with each other.* ## The problem with traditional divorce negotiations Divorce negotiations ask a lot of people emotionally. You're dealing with hurt, anger, disappointment and uncertainty about the future. And then you're expected to sit down with the person at the centre of those emotions and calmly discuss your finances, your home and your children. A sarcastic comment. An eye roll. A familiar tone of voice. Suddenly, a conversation about dividing assets becomes an argument about something that happened three years ago. Someone gets defensive. Someone cries. Voices rise. And the actual decisions that need to be made get lost in the emotion. Even when both people genuinely want to reach an agreement, being in the same room can make it incredibly difficult. **Sometimes the biggest obstacle to reaching agreement isn't what you're negotiating. It's how you're being asked to negotiate it.** ## A different way to negotiate This is one of the things we've fundamentally reimagined at On Good Terms. Our platform allows each spouse to engage with the divorce process **individually, privately and in their own time.** No sitting across a table from each other. No heated conversations. No pressure to respond on the spot. **You don't have to see each other, hear each other's voices or even read each other's raw, emotionally charged words.** Instead, our AI-guided platform helps each person express their needs, concerns and proposals through a structured process. It identifies common ground, highlights differences and helps couples work towards mutually acceptable solutions. Importantly, AI can reframe emotionally charged language into more neutral, constructive communication, while preserving the substance of what each person is saying. The aim isn't to silence anyone or avoid difficult issues. It's to make those issues easier to resolve, without the emotional delivery getting in the way. ## Less reacting. More thinking. Imagine receiving a proposal about your financial settlement without the accompanying sarcasm, frustration or accusation. Instead of reacting to *how* something was said, you can focus on *what* is actually being proposed. You have time to consider your options, think about what matters to you and respond when you're ready. Both people can still disagree, make counterproposals and stand their ground. But they're given the space to do so thoughtfully, rather than in the heat of an argument. **We don't remove the difficult decisions. We remove some of the unnecessary difficulty in making them.** ## A better foundation for co-parenting This approach is particularly valuable when children are involved. A marriage may end, but parenting doesn't. How couples navigate their divorce can influence their ability to co-parent for years to come. We believe that reducing unnecessary conflict during the divorce process gives parents a better chance of building a constructive co-parenting relationship afterwards. And ultimately, it's their children who stand to benefit. ## Divorce, reinvented. For the better. On Good Terms isn't traditional mediation conducted online, and it isn't a DIY divorce-document service. We've redesigned the negotiation experience itself, combining private, AI-guided negotiation with professional legal oversight and an end-to-end divorce process. It's designed for couples who are both willing and able to reach agreement, even when emotions are running high. It isn't suitable for situations involving abuse, coercion or significant power imbalances. Because we believe that **sometimes, the best way to find common ground is to give each other a little space.** --- **Ready for a different way to divorce?** On Good Terms is currently in beta and preparing for its official launch in mid-November 2026. [Visit](https://ongoodterms.ai/)[ongoodterms.ai](http://ongoodterms.ai) to learn more or join our waitlist. --- This is general information about South African law and practice. It is not advice about any particular situation and does not replace advice from an attorney.