Going through a divorce involves making a lot of life changes that can quickly become overwhelming and stressful. So it's essential to make sure that you have an experienced and resourceful divorce attorney by your side to represent you before, during, and after the divorce process. But you'll need to do a little leg work in order to find the right service provider for your needs. Here are a few things to consider before hiring any divorce attorney:

About Mediation

If you have a decent relationship with your spouse, you may find it beneficial to attend mediation when coming to agreements on things such as child custody and living arrangements. Mediation services allow you and your spouse to try and settle your differences outside of the courtroom so you can save money and time, as well as hopefully avoid future conflicts between one another. Not all lawyers are willing to participate in mediation services. Because of this, it's important to ask potential service providers about their stance on the option to ensure that you'll be represented no matter what techniques you want to use when resolving your marital issues.

About Resources

Conveniently, many divorce attorneys have access to a variety of resources that you may be able to take advantage of that will provide some relief for you and your family members both during and after the process of divorce. For example, some lawyers maintain personal relationships with family therapists so they'll be able to recommend the right kind of support for your family's specific needs. Other types of resources and services your lawyer may be able to connect you with include:

• Financial Counseling
• Child Visitation Supervisors
• Food Collection, Clothing Purchases, and Bill Pay Assistance

You may even be able to get discounts for services you need if the lawyer you hire has a large database of contacts.

About Paperwork

Another thing to consider is paperwork. You can expect that there will be lots of it, and you shouldn't deal with it yourself, in order to avoid the chance of overlooking something important that isn't familiar to you. For instance, when it comes to documenting your personal income or financial responsibilities, your attorney can help you streamline everything so it's easy to sum up for the courts.

Your lawyer can also handle things like filling out insurance paperwork, filing actual divorce papers, and even putting together custody and alimony requests so you don't have to deal with it. So it is important to make sure that the management of all paperwork is included in the service pricing that your lawyer quotes you. Otherwise, you may be charged on a per-piece basis, which can get quite expensive and result in unexpected bills.

About Payments

If you're like most people, paying your divorce attorney is a big consideration on your mind. Luckily, most attorneys offer a variety of payment options to make it easy for you to manage your finances while your divorce is being finalized. Some offer the option to make monthly payments until the balance is paid off, while others will work on a per fee basis meaning that you'll pay for their services as they complete them. This allows you to control the pace at which your case flows, so you can maintain control over your financial schedule.

But don't assume that a lawyer you're interested in working with will accommodate your payment needs, or you may be setting yourself up for disappointment when it comes time to make a payment. To protect yourself, ask for a copy of available finance options in writing and ensure that the option you choose is included in your service contract when hiring your lawyer.

Add these ideas to your own list of considerations and use the list as an outline when meeting with potential divorce lawyers at law offices like Madison Law Firm PLLC.