In many families today, divorce has become the norm rather than the exception to the rule. Most extended families are seeing this trend continue time and time again, with more and more people being hurt along the way. Divorces can often be slow and painful for all who are involved, and for many, the pain radiates not just from the couple going through the divorce, but can spread outward to the children, other family members, and friends as well. For some, divorce is an easy answer for a bad marriage.

But for others, it can be quite an emotional journey, one that can last for a very long time. There are resources out there to help deal with this rising problem in today's society, but sometimes the hardest step is the very first one that may lead you to much self-healing in the end. One certainly cannot navigate the sometimes muddy waters of a divorce without receiving some appropriate divorce information and having the help of one experienced in dispensing divorce legal help. In other words, if a divorce is threatening to end your marriage, you must hire yourself an attorney.

Sure, a lawyer may be expensive, but having one is the only way to ensure that your best interests are met. An experienced divorce lawyer will help you through the complications that can arise from even the easiest of divorce cases to those that come when custody of children is in dispute or when there are many assets to divide and protect. Not only can your lawyer provide you with expert divorce legal help, but he or she can also act as a line of communication between you and your spouse. Often, things may get so bitter that you cannot speak with the other party. But your lawyer can do some of that for you, helping to ease some of the emotional stress that those conversations rife with tension can lead to. Other divorce help is out there and available to you in the form of books and numerous publications.

There are a number of books that have been written on the topic of divorce, from when to seek a divorce to how to best care for your children as they experience the pain of divorcing parents. Your local libraries and bookstores are a great resource to use when facing the reality of an impending divorce. The internet can also be a great tool when looking for ways to survive your divorce.

In addition to chat rooms and websites devoted to the strains and anxiety of divorce, there are also sites that will dispense legal advice (be careful about whom you trust in this matter), and for later on, dating sites for divorced singles. Many communities, job sites, and places of worship are beginning to offer support groups and counseling services for members and employees dealing with the personal devastation that a divorce can deal to a family. As the rates of divorce continue to rise, it is a sure bet that more of these kinds of support services will continue to pop up to meet the needs of our friends and families who surround us and need good legal help and information when dealing with divorce.

The pain of divorce and its ramifications are not going to go away anytime soon. However, there are many resources available to help you and your family deal with the loss that divorce can present, and in time, help the wounds to heal.

Patricia Bennett publishes a wealth of information on this subject. See http://www.freedivorceresources.com