Divorce Resources
Aside from the obvious personal difficulties, there are many practical considerations in a divorce. In this guide you'll find resources that will introduce the divorce process, provide you with legal resources, and offer guidance for managing your finances. You'll also find information about supporting your children, and tools to find counseling for yourself or your family.
For a Spanish-language version of the Guide, click here.
Statistics indicate that we all know someone, or many people, who are divorced, but only those who ... read more »
There are a lot of legal considerations when going through a divorce, and at times your emotions may cloud your ability to come to an agreement with your spouse about how to handle the break up of your marriage. Take a look at the sites below to figure out if you need a lawyer and, if you do, how to choose one that is right for you. If you and your spouse have no need for much legal intervention, you'll find resources to help you do most of the work on your own here as well.
- You may already have a lawyer who handles your affairs, but for a divorce it can be helpful to have a lawyer who specializes in divorce and family law. Ask your current lawyer or a trusted friend for a recommendation, or utilize the sites in this section to help you find one.
- If you expect a divorce with relatively few complications, or for personal reasons do not wish to employ a lawyer, look into what is called an "uncontested divorce."
To find and choose a divorce lawyer ...
The Legal and Legislative Resource Center
offers advice on general lawyer selection. With some basic definitions of legal terms, and descriptions of what interactions with lawyers are like, the site will prepare you for what meeting and choosing your divorce lawyer will be like.
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
will help you locate a lawyer, and provides advice for protecting your children and surviving the difficulties of divorce. "Law Links" on the left sidebar will lead you to family law organizations, courts, and cases when divorce has been contested, as well as government departments that deal in family law.
American Bar Association
has a "Public Resources" link that helps you get information on many legal topics, including family law. Visit the "Get Legal Help" section for a lawyer referral service or to learn more about legal help.
For facilitating your own divorce ...
Association for Conflict Resolution
has a mediator referral service where you'll be able to find a mediator, should you decide that you'd rather not involve lawyers in your divorce.
Nolo
has a "Divorce and Child Custody" section that will prove useful for anyone wanting to get divorced without much interference from courts or lawyers, especially in the
"Divorce Without Court" section. Even if you decide to use lawyers, Nolo can provide a very good reference tool to help you get familiar with divorce terminology and legal explanations.
legalzoom.com
helps you prepare legal documents for a divorce from your own home. This site allows you to file an uncontested divorce-if you can agree with your spouse on how to divide assets and child custody. The service costs between $250 and $300.
In most cases you'll need a lawyer to assist with your divorce, but understanding divorce law and ... read more »
Division of assets and managing finances are usually the greatest challenges in any divorce case. ... read more »
Whether you want to find better ways to talk to your children or learn how to maintain rules and ... read more »
Many couples and families going through divorce opt to visit a counselor: briefly, long term, ... read more »
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