Couples facing divorce typically experience a great deal of anxiety, stress and emotional pain during the process. In fact, many get caught up in their anger and frustration to the point that they end up sabotaging or killing their divorce settlement. This is an outcome couples should strive to avoid, especially since decisions made now can significantly impact them financially and emotionally for many years to come. In this excellent article Patricia Barrett offers five keys to ensuring you and your soon-to-be-ex-spouse don't sabotage the mediation process with negative comments or bad behavior.

• Avoid knee jerk reactions to proposed offers

• Don't shoot yourself in the foot

• Know what you want and expect to compromise

• Do not breach the trust you are building

• Own your decisions

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