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Collaborative Divorce

Knoxville Collaborative Divorce Lawyers

Helping Clients Resolve Divorce without Litigation

Collaborative law is an approach that seeks to avoid the traditional adversarial litigation model in favor of a team approach to conflict resolution. Held Law Firm is specially trained in collaborative law and is committed to taking a team approach in resolving your issue. The parties agree, in a written contract, to jointly retain the necessary specialists to assist in reaching an agreement and the attorneys involved agree that neither will represent either party in court if the collaborative effort is unsuccessful.

We believe that the divorce transition can moves clients towards a more positive future, especially where co-parenting will be needed.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Collaborative Divorce?

Collaborative divorce is an excellent choice for couples who:

  • Are willing to negotiate in good faith

  • Want to prioritize their children’s well-being

  • Seek a cost-effective, private alternative to litigation

  • Have complex financial assets but wish to resolve matters amicably

  • Desire to maintain control over their divorce terms rather than leaving decisions to a judge

Suppose you are interested in resolving your collaborative divorce more peacefully and amicably. In that case, our Knoxville divorce lawyer recommends learning more about how the collaborative process can benefit you.

Connectwith Held Law Firm by calling (865) 685-4780 to book a consultation with a collaborative divorce attorney near you today.

How Does the Collaborative Law Process Work?

Litigation often causes hostility. Collaborative law is designed to prevent, limit, or end that hostility. This can be especially important in cases where, as angry as you might be with your spouse, you recognize you will have to work with them in the future to co-parent. It can also work in divorces where the parties don’t hate one another; they just don’t love each other anymore and have decided to part ways.

In collaborative law, parties and their divorce attorneys sign a contract agreeing that they will not ask the Judge to resolve their dispute. Instead, they will consult with various professionals, such as accountants, financial advisors, and child therapists; exchange information openly; and resolve their divorce themselves in advance of formally filing for divorce.

A divorce coach, typically a licensed mental health professional, helps guide the process and works with the parties to move through conflicts and aid in communication. The divorce coach keeps the process going forward and facilitates meetings. A financial specialist is employed to analyze the parties’ financial assets and options and assist with developing a plan. Sometimes, if children are involved, a child specialist may be utilized to help with the parenting plan.

The idea is for the parties to gather information from neutral resources and make informed decisions about the future of their family. The parties and their attorneys meet separately and in four-way sessions to discuss their needs, options, and to cooperate through creative problem-solving to resolve all of their issues in the private setting outside of court. Once they have come to mutually-agreeable terms, their attorneys can formalize the agreement for submission to the court.

The Benefits of Collaborative Divorce

The benefits of a collaborative resolution include:

  • A less adversarial and more amicable process where both parties and their children may face less emotional stress
  • A private process outside of the public forum of a courtroom
  • Less costly than courtroom litigation
  • Less time-consuming because it does not depend on court schedules
  • More control of deeply-personal issues as opposed to having them decided by a judge

Why Choose Held Law Firm for Your Collaborative Divorce?

Divorce does not have to be a battle. If you and your spouse are committed to a respectful separation while protecting your financial and emotional well-being, collaborative divorce may be the right solution. At Held Law Firm, we provide expert legal counsel while fostering open communication and cooperation. Our approach includes:

  • A Structured Process: Collaborative divorce follows a clear framework that promotes productive discussions and equitable resolutions.

  • Privacy and Discretion: Unlike traditional divorce litigation, which is a public record, collaborative divorce ensures your financial and personal matters remain private.

  • Customized Solutions: We help tailor agreements that meet the unique needs of your family, including property division, spousal support, and child custody.

  • Reduced Emotional and Financial Strain: By avoiding courtroom battles, you save on legal fees and minimize stress for yourself and your children.

  • Professional Support Network: Our Knoxville collaborative divorce lawyers work with financial advisors, child specialists, and therapists to ensure well-rounded solutions that address both legal and emotional aspects of divorce.

Types of Divorces Offered

At Held Law Firm, we recognize that every divorce is unique. We offer various types of divorce solutions tailored to meet your needs:

  • Collaborative Divorce: This process emphasizes cooperation and problem-solving, avoiding court litigation and fostering mutual respect between both parties.

  • Contested Divorce: When spouses cannot agree on key issues such as property division, alimony, or child custody, a contested divorce may be necessary. Our experienced litigators advocate for your best interests in court.

  • Uncontested Divorce: If both parties agree on all aspects of the divorce, an uncontested divorce is the fastest and most cost-effective option. We help draft and file the necessary legal documents efficiently.

  • High-Asset Divorce: For individuals with substantial financial holdings, including business interests, investments, and real estate, we provide specialized legal strategies to protect assets and ensure equitable distribution.

Resolve Your Divorce with Help from a Knoxville Collaborative Divorce Attorney

At Held Law Firm, we believe divorce doesn’t have to be a battle. If you're ready to part ways with dignity, protect your assets, and prioritize your family's well-being, our Knoxville collaborative divorce lawyers are here to help.

Let us guide you through a peaceful, cost-effective, and private divorce process that allows you to move forward with confidence. We’ll be by your side every step of the way—ensuring fairness, transparency, and solutions that work for you.

If you are seeking a more harmonious way to transition through your divorce, we advise you to seek the help of Held Law Firm.

Learn more about the collaborative divorce process by contacting us at (865) 685-4780 today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How does collaborative divorce differ from traditional divorce?

Collaborative divorce is a voluntary process where both parties work together with attorneys and professionals to reach a settlement without going to court. Traditional divorce often involves litigation and a judge making final decisions.

2. What happens if we cannot reach an agreement?

If an agreement cannot be reached, both parties must hire new attorneys for litigation. This requirement encourages both spouses to remain committed to the collaborative process.

3. How long does a collaborative divorce take?

The timeline varies, but most collaborative divorces are finalized within a few months, depending on the complexity of assets and negotiations.

4. Is collaborative divorce legally binding?

Yes. Once a settlement agreement is reached and approved by the court, it is legally binding and enforceable.

5. Can high-net-worth couples use collaborative divorce?

Absolutely. In fact, high-asset divorces benefit from this process because financial specialists can help both parties create equitable, tax-efficient settlements while avoiding costly litigation.

6. Is collaborative divorce a good option for parents?

Yes. It helps parents work together to create parenting plans that prioritize the well-being of their children, fostering a positive co-parenting relationship.

Testimonials

Hear About Former Clients' Experiences

At Held Law Firm, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.

    After being married for over 40 years, I was at a point in my life that I no longer wanted to take care of every aspect of being in that situation. I felt it was time for me to start thinking more about my life and how I wanted to spend my remaining time that I have left. It was time for me to take care of ME. Thru a friend, I talked to a lady that works in family court and knows a lot about these matters. She gave me a list of 3 lawyers and Melanie's was the first on her list. I did talk to all 3 of them and Melanie was the one I felt the most comfortable with. She was very understanding of my situation and was easy to talk to. She explained things and answered my questions in ways that were easy to understand. My husband tried his best to talk me out of the divorce and tried to ignore the situation all together. With Melanie's help, I kept things moving along and was able to the divorce. Since he didn't contest any aspects of the divorce, Melanie made sure all my desires and needs were met and granted by the judge. She is very professional and responds in a timely manner. She also is a very nice person with a good sense of humor. I highly recommend Melanie and the staff of Held Law Firm. C. White
    - C. White
    We live in California and needed a law firm to help us get custody of our 2 young (9 and 12 yo) grand nephews after their mother passed away. Held Law Firm, Chelsea and Abigail, in particular were our warriors! They did not give us false hope and kept things in perspective though out the entire process. We had to fight for those boys and that's where the warrior part comes into play. The attorneys and support staff are really amazing! Keeping us informed and helping us to stay on task. It was difficult to be so far away but we finally went to court and we have been granted custody. WARRIORS! I highly recommend Held Law Firm! TB Northern California
    - TB Northern California
    Held law firm went above and beyond to help me with a case they don't normally do. I appreciate how dedicated they are to helping make sure the case goes well. I couldn't have had a better attorney helping me close my mom's estate. Thank you for all your hard work.
    - J.A.
    Newer to the Knoxville area and looking for a law firm to help us set up our will. Melanie Hogg, with Held Law Firm, came highly recommended and have to say the reviews were right. Melanie was responsive, patent with all our questions, and expertly walked us through getting all the documents we needed in order. Felt like we were in great hands with someone with lots of experience in this area of law. Would definitely recommend you reach out to Held Law Firm for all your legal needs and if you have the pleasure of working with Melanie you won't be disappointed.
    - A. Witte
    Margaret and her staff make you feel very welcome from the beginning. Everyone in the office makes a difficult process a lot easier to go through. She and her staff are kind, thoughtful, patient, brilliant, and incredibly good at what you hire them to do! I highly recommend Held Law Firm!
    - J.W.
    After interviewing almost every attorney in downtown Knoxville and finding them to minimize and plan to use a cookie cutter approach to my case I was deeply relieved to find Held Law Firm. They are the only legal team in the entire East Tennessee area that is attuned to the dire circumstances that are unique to divorcing a person with unresolved mental health issues. Trust me, I looked really hard. The team has been unfailingly supportive as they were dragged into the DCS allegations and custody drama that is too common when a diagnosed narcissist is a factor. Margaret Held and Chelsea Price even personally came to the scene of a mid divorce homicide attempt to speak directly with officers. I wouldn’t have gotten a badly needed Order of Protection without Held Law Firm being aggressive and taking my defense personally. Honestly, you cannot defend yourself from a narcissist without help. You cannot defend yourself against agencies without help. Held Law is local, women-owned, experienced, diverse, and supportive of your civil rights to their last breath. They are the team you need.
    - L. F.
    Margaret Held was excellent help with obtaining information on my divorce. She knew exactly what she was talking about and I feel confident that they are one of the best lawyer offices in Knoxville!
    - K. M.
    Short Version: Melanie and Chelsea are a force to be reckoned with and thank God they were on my side. Do yourself a favor and go with them. **Worth the read if you are searching for a Lawyer** Long Version: Melanie: I usually dread dealing with lawyers because of some bad experiences that I have had in the past. We have been taken advantage of, judged, and left with incomplete service before, and it is enough to leave a bad taste in anyone mouth when it concerns the legal system and lawyers in general. Then one day I had a trusted friend tell me about how they (and their friends) had great luck out of Held Law Firm. As much as I was nervous, I reached out to them, and to my surprise, a lovely, kind voice picked up the phone and listened to all my questions and got a consultation scheduled. I had dealt with a bunch of lawyers and never once did i see anything near the level of professionalism I experienced with Melanie. She was polite, kind, sympathetic, and made me feel welcome. We decided to go through with her, and she guided us each step of the way and the pricing was reasonable and we didn't feel any pressure at all. Melanie was so professional and organized that it was a landslide victory. -Melanie. You are awesome! Thank you so much! Chelsea: We had a 2 kid step-parent-adoption that needed to be done and we obviously were going back to Held because of the 10/10 service. Melanie suggested (Not forced, she said she could take the case if we really wanted to stay with her. They are NEVER pushy) that we go through Chelsea because she was very experienced and literally just got done with a very similar case. I took her advice, because I trust her. We got the pleasure to sit down and talk with Chelsea who was eager to work with us and help us get our problem fixed. She (like Melanie) was so wonderful to work with. She was so sweet to us and our children. She is very well spoken and gave us very clear instructions and worked with us every step of the way. I was so scared that the adoption wouldn't go through, and my kids wouldn't be safe, even though she was reassuring us the entire time. The entire thing went just like she said it would from day one. My gosh I have never seen a court case so one sided. She was so insanely organized that she had papers and forms ready to go 5 steps ahead of time. The judge was even impressed and complimented her for "really being on top of everything." Her foresight saved us from 2 more court appointments and 6 months of waiting. To beat it all this entire court session only lasted for about 10 minuted after we went up. I thank GOD that I have had Held Law Firm in my time of need. Who knows what would have happened with my kids if I didn't. My kids have been bragging to everyone that will listed about their new names. -Chelsea, thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
    - R. F.

Why Hire Held Law Firm?

"There isn't a better group in Knoxville"
  • When You Hire One Attorney, You Hire the Entire Firm
  • A True Passion for Standing Up for What's Right
  • Our Goal Is for Every Client to Leave on Cloud 9
  • Actively Involved in Improving Our Local Community
  • A Team of Fearless Trial Attorneys
  • Over 50 Years of Experience in Family Law