April 5th was a big day for Knoxville – it was the day we gained 15 divorce attorneys who are able to represent clients in a collaborative divorce. If you haven’t heard of collaborative divorce you’re not alone. While collaborative law has grown in popularity the past few years on the east and left coasts, us middle folks tend to be a bit slow on the uptake. Those days are over – collaborative divorce has arrived!

In a collaborative divorce both parties are represented by an attorney. You must agree, however, that the two attorneys will not prepare your case for trial – no depositions, no hard ball tactics, no strategies, no half-truths, there must be open sharing of information. The attorneys, and the parties, are instead committed to working toward an agreement that will satisfy the needs of both parties.

Hiring a good divorce attorney is probably the most important step you will take in your divorce. By good, I mean an attorney who is knowledgeable about current local rules, appears often in front of Knoxville judges, will suggest mediation early in the process, and is committed to helping you file an agreed divorce.  

To help you find a good attorney here are 6 questions to ask: