Okay so you have made up your mind that divorce is the right decision for you and you are ready to move forward. You have thought a lot about the facts of your situation, you have talked with close friends and family members about the options that are available to you, now you are ready to start looking for a divorce attorney. Where do you start? Here is a list of 7 places to start looking for an divorce attorney.

Law firms. Call trusted law firms in your community and schedule a free consultation. You could also browse their websites first to learn more about their legal experiences and make inquiries before you go to visit their office in person.

Local listings. You will find ads for divorce attorneys in the yellow pages and other local listings. Let your commonsense guide you when hiring someone from these sources though, because not all of the attorneys who advertise in the local listings are going to be qualified to handle your divorce case. This is especially true if your case has some complex issues. Remember, just because an attorney list on his yellow page ad that he practices in the areas of divorce and child custody, that does not necessarily mean that his practice is focused on just those two areas. The attorney’s practice might focus on a different area of law and he just handles divorce and child custody cases on the side in order to pay his rent…again, just let your commonsense guide you.

Referrals. For a more reliable source, go ahead and ask for referrals from a attorney that you trust. He or she may be able to recommend another colleague especially if they practice in the same community. If you do not know an attorney, then get recommendations from your close friends and family members. Accountants, doctors and other professionals are also good referral sources.

Local Bar Associations. You local Bar Association will have a lawyer referral service. You can call the staff at your local bar association and ask them to get you connected with a reputable, affordable divorce attorney. They will probably give you the names of two to three divorce attorneys to call.

Legal Services. You may have access to free legal services in your region like Legal Aid. To qualify for these services, you have to meet certain income qualifications. So be sure to check the qualifications before you apply and contact your local legal aid office for more information.

Lawyer referral services. As mentioned above, your local Bar Association should have a referral service. Also, in your community, there might be a privately owned Lawyer Referral Company. These companies are non-profit organizations designed to assist low-income people in finding an attorney for a reduced price.

Law schools. Most law schools have legal aid clinics and pro bono programs that you can take advantage of if your particular case qualifies. If they cannot help you, they will be able to refer you to a divorce attorney who can.