Family law can take a lot out of you since it involves cases that are near and dear to your heart. If you had your choice, you surely wouldn't have to allow the courts to settle matters like splitting up your marriage and deciding who gets more time with the kids, but sometimes those situations are inevitable and unavoidable. When confronted with these sorts of cases, you will need the help of some qualified professionals. Read on so that you can map out your post-divorce life and get the legal representation that'll help. 

Create a blueprint for what you want your post-divorce to be like 

Think about where you want to be in terms of your career, property ownership, where you want to live, and how you want to raise your kids. This will be key in helping you figure out what you want to push for in a settlement or fight for in court. 

Right now, there are more than 14 million parents with custody arrangements. Some 90 percent of these agreements were hashed out in court and about half involve some form of child support. Start with your happiness and vision for your life and work backward to find professionals that can help put these pieces into place. 

Enlist the help of a family law attorney that is cooperative, experienced and solutions-oriented

Start by deciding which attorney you want to hire for your family law needs. Find a lawyer that belongs to associations such as the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), since they support professionals who work child custody, divorce, and other family law cases. Choose an attorney that is all about peaceful resolutions instead of haggling and prolonging court proceedings. 

Mediation should be high on your list of priorities so that you can push toward solutions. Professionals that stand in as a third-party will make the road much easier and can help you communicate with your ex. Getting divorce mediation can cost you as little as $500 and may cost more than $1,500. This is a fraction of what most people pay for multiple-year long contentious divorces. 

Make contingencies and protections for your finances and assets

In addition to child custody agreements, you'll need to protect your money in a divorce. Look into getting a credit report for both of you so that you know exactly where you stand with your assets and liabilities. Use that to see where you stand, so that you can then consult with your lawyer to close the correct accounts and make decisions related to property and investments. 

Let these tips help you in your divorce proceedings.