It happens to everyone. You need legal help, but you have no idea what you're getting into or where to begin. The thought of hiring a personal attorney-and shelling out outrageous amounts of money in hourly legal fees-makes you cringe. Isn't there a better way?

The Ask a Lawyer series arms you with practical, usable advice about common legal situations, answering your questions and familiarizing you with legal procedure before you ever set foot in a lawyer's office. Each book walks you through simple explanations of the law, legal definitions, tips, and sample scenarios, describing what will happen and what your options are. In some cases, these books can keep you from spending money on a lawyer you really never needed.

Whether you ultimately decide to handle the matter by yourself or use an attorney's assistance for the completion of your plans, these books can easily save you thousands of dollars in the process.

You've heard the stories about messy divorces and protracted child custody battles. You can lessen the trauma and survive divorce with your sanity intact by knowing what to expect. Topics covered include getting a good lawyer and keeping legal fees down, division of property, alimony and child support, getting custody of your children or deciding visitation rights, mediation, what a typical settlement might look like, what could happen in a trial, and life after divorce.