Divorced parents have a multitude of decisions to make about their custody case. And, the decisions they make are very important and have lasting consequence. Because of this, they need to have solid legal advice for their custody case.

Now, when most parents think of legal advice they automatically think of their lawyer. Hiring legal counsel is one of the important decisions a parent has to make about child custody. Here are three things to consider before you sign on with an attorney.

1. Look at your case to determine your need. If you have a very complicated case and a poor relationship with the child’s other parent, or if the other parent has made it clear that they aren’t willing to be reasonable, then you want to get a lawyer. If your case is fairly straightforward and you are in contact with your former spouse then you may not need legal counsel.

In order to help you decide you may want to take some time to meet with an attorney. Many law firms will let you have an initial appointment for a reasonable cost to discuss your case. You can ask how your case will be handled. If it seems like a plan you can handle on your own then perhaps you can bypass the legal team.

2. Find an attorney who is on your side. Do your homework before hiring a lawyer. Meet with the person and discuss how he/she would represent your case. Make sure they understand your wants and needs in the situation and that they don’t just brush you aside. This is one of the most important things going on in your life and they should recognize that.

3. Be proactive and think of how you can help your case. You may want to have an attorney, but you can still do some things on your own and lower the cost of your legal fees. Take part in making a custody and visitation schedule, and look for other ways to be proactive in your case.

You want the best legal advice possible in your custody situation. There are various ways to get this advice–you can do your own research or go to a law expert. Do what works best for you.