Going through a divorce is no fun. Lives are changing, relationships are ending, and its an overall very unsettling time. And if the divorce is contentious, it can be even worse. During that time you are going to want to find the best divorce lawyer you can. And if you’re not careful you make some big mistakes.

Although searching for a divorce lawyer is a lot like finding a truck accident attorney or a pedestrian accident attorney, or even a bankruptcy attorney, in some ways it is different. For one thing, in those cases, most of the time, even if there is a loss of life involved, the emotions don’t run nearly as high. With divorce, sometimes it becomes less about getting what you should and more about punishing the other person.

The best divorce attorney you can find is going to understand that and be able to help you manage those emotions and feelings so in the end you do get what you want.

One thing you can be sure of when looking for a top divorce lawyer – if you go for the cheapest option, you are going to get what you pay for. Divorce work is a lot like criminal defense – it’s easy to get into, it’s easy to act like you know what you’re doing, and it’s easy to mess everything up. So find someone that does know what they’re doing, that is looking out four your interests, and is going to take the time to take care of you.

For example, I knew a guy who was getting a divorce and he wanted the best divorce lawyers in town on his side. He went to a guy, paid him a flat fee of $3,000, and got taken to the cleaners. If you want a set of truly high powered attorneys, you are going to have to pay at least $15,000. And that’s just to start.

In the end, if you and your spouse are splitting amicably and know where you want everything to go (and particularly if no kids are involved) then you may not even need a lawyer at all, much less the best divorce attorneys around. So consider that as well.