A divorce lawyer, or family practice lawyer, is the type of lawyer that specializes in civil law. Divorce lawyers also handle cases regarding the following:

• Annulment
• Separation
• Child custody
• Child support
• Visitation rights

Read on to learn more about divorce lawyers and if they can help you. 

What Does a Divorce Lawyer Do?

In the divorce process, a divorce lawyer is pretty close to the jack of all trades. There aren't many areas that a divorce lawyer won't have answers to regarding family. Here are a few of the areas a divorce lawyer can help in. 

Advising

A divorce lawyer will help you decide if terminating the marriage through fault grounds is relevant or necessary. They will also help you determine whether divorce or annulment is the best route to go. If needed, your lawyer can also serve as a buffer between you and your spouse if no contact is preferred. 

Assets

Your divorce lawyer will ensure your spouse is properly reporting any debts and assets they have. This is to make sure that the marital estate is fairly distributed. Your lawyer will also take into account whether the assets were obtained before or after the marriage took place. 

Spousal Support

The most common time spousal support will come into play is if you and are spouse earn very different incomes as a result of you giving up a career path in order to advance your spouse's career. Your divorce lawyer will determine if this is something you are entitled to, as well as part of your spouse's pension and social security down the line. 

Child Custody Plans

With the child's best interests in mind, your divorce lawyer will help come up with a plan that will best serve the child (e.g. one week at one parent's house, one week at the other's or weekdays with one parent, weekends with the other). 

How Much Does Hiring a Divorce Lawyer Cost?

The cost of hiring a divorce lawyer will not only vary depending on the lawyer or firm but also the state you reside in. The national average cost of a divorce lawyer is right around $250 per hour. If you and your spouse are having difficulties agreeing on terms, this could also cause the cost of a lawyer to go up. Another cost you may need to be wary of is the retainer fee, or a payment made upfront to cover some of the costs of the case. Not all divorce lawyers will charge a retainer fee, but it is very common. Despite the cost of hiring a lawyer, it is always a great idea to have someone fighting on your side. 

To learn more, contact a divorce lawyer near you.