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COMMON GROUND DIVORCE SPECIALISTS

November 17, 2005

This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.

When David Musselman began a divorce mediation practice 10 years ago, many people didn't know the definition of divorce mediation.

David wanted to keep separating couples away from cold courtrooms and adversarial attorneys by helping them work though financial arrangements, child custody and other issues on their own.

David completed postgraduate work in conflict resolution at the University of Utah. He said his professors warned him that Utah had no market for mediation.

Well, David was ahead of his time. In March, the Utah Legislature passed a law that mandates mediation for all divorcing couples prior to entering the courts.

David's practice, Common Ground Divorce Specialists, now mediates divorces for hundreds of couples each year at its offices in Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo, St. George and Monticello.

David says that unlike attorneys who take sides, mediators act as referees to help couples reach agreements. Some mediator teams consist of a man and a woman to ensure the perspective of both husband and wife. David says mediators create a safe environment — they level the playing field and offer procedural information.

David tells me the mediation process saves couples thousands of dollars and months in court. While the average litigated divorce case costs $15,000 per person and lasts 18 months to 2 years, he says the same divorce, using mediation, would cost $2,000 and take 6 weeks. Also, David says significantly fewer litigated cases end up back in court.

David tells me the greatest benefit of mediation is that it prevents an ugly, high-conflict divorce, which can be especially damaging to the children involved. Common Ground Divorce Specialists has also teamed up with several marriage counseling centers to refer couples who seek to preserve their marriages.

For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.

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