Tag: Divorce

As the founder of Common Ground Divorce Services of Utah, David Musselman serves as the lead mediator for clients in various stages of divorce proceedings. Additionally, David Musselman offers mediator services for post-divorce modifications.

After a divorce agreement is finalized, either party may request a modification that involves spousal support, custody, or other arrangements. Some of the common reasons for decree modifications are changes in family needs, remarriage, and significant changes to the personal economy.

The first step in requesting a modification is filing a petition. In this document, the petitioner must describe the things they want to be changed, how they would like them changed, and the reasons for requesting the change.

The petition must be filed at the courthouse where the divorce proceedings were decided. After this, the other spouse must be notified, and mediation should be arranged. If the modifications are not agreed upon in mediation, the case will be decided by the court.

David Musselman, an alumnus of the University of Utah, is an experienced divorce mediator. Currently, David Musselman leads Common Ground Divorce Services, a mediation company based in Utah. The company focuses on providing mediation as a more affordable alternative to court-based divorce processes.

In Utah, the average cost of a divorce is $13,200. Of that sum, $10,400 is typically allocated to lawyers’ fees. The fees and rates of paralegals are also part of court-based divorce costs, as are fees of any other firms that work on the case. Court-based divorce processes also involve costs related to court filings and the sharing and copying of documents. Finally, fees for child custody consultants, appraisers, and other expert witnesses may also factor into the final cost of a divorce.

Certain circumstances can drive the cost of a divorce far above the average sum. These include costs related to children who are minors, and divorces in which one party is deemed at fault. This latter situation occurs in cases of habitual drunkenness, adultery, domestic violence, or abuse, among other situations. Finally, if the parties involved in a divorce have issues related to the division of property, divorce costs can increase significantly.