One way to avoid having a bad experience with a lawyer is to not use one at all! There are some things that can turn out just as well without a lawyer and you will have a hunk of cash left in your wallet at the end. Divorce is one of those things, or at least it can be if you can get past the highly charged emotions and just sit down with your partner and work out the details. Divorce doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. If you and your spouse can agree on how to divide property and resolve any child-related issues, you can file what’s known as an uncontested divorce. There are great resources available on the Internet to guide you through the process in your state and prepare all the right paperwork to be filed with the court. I have personally prepared uncontested divorce papers for couples in my work as a paralegal and know that you do not always need an attorney to “fight” it out in court. I recommend the services of LegalZoom.com – they have a system that asks you all the questions that need to be addressed in a divorce in your state. They prepare the paperwork for you and can make changes if you change your mind before filing it with the court.

One of the things that gives lawyers “power” in our society is that they keep the legal system cloaked in mystery. They get your attention (and access to your checkbook) when you are at your most vulnerable. It can be worth it to gather your thoughts and figure out if you really need to get all mixed up in a drawn out legal battle about who gets the china and the dog. Even issues about your kids can frequently get worked out if you remember that it’s about the kids, not about you.