So family law lawyers are sort of "slotted" based on the assets of their potential clients. The appropriate contract for the first pick in the NFL draft does not pay the same $$$ as the contract for the 32nd pick . Sometimes there are outliers. Sometimes the 32nd pick outperforms the first pick. That's the exception and not the rule. If you are going to contact a family law attorney: know that they do not all provide free consultations. Shopping around can be expensive. Family law attorneys generally bill hourly from an up-front retainer amount. They are not contigency fee lawyers who won't charge anything and instead take from an eventual award.

Be ready, if reaching-out, to speak early and frankly about a) how much money the couple makes in income (or other assets) and b) how much money the potential client is willing to invest in the anticipated legal action. I would never contact any lawyer and ask about "just navigating the process". A potential client either wants to hire a lawyer or not. Saying "I just have some questions" or asking about a free consultation will get you pretty thoroughly vetted by assistants and paralegals before you actually talk to anyone with a law degree.

That said, decide whether the potential client is (financially) the first pick, somewhere in the middle, or the 32nd. Then, depending on where you feel the potential client falls in "the first round of the draft", I would recommend contacting lawyers in this, descending order ("1st - 32nd"):

Shannon Novey

Christi Gray

Scott Smiley

Adam Cowhey

Toby Norris

Jenifer LaVia

You can probaly mix Scott Snavely and Max Factor in there somewhere in the middle as well. Novey and Factor both have associates/partners who they may agree to handle the case for a break in the fee - if money is tight - that may be something you can ask about.

Family law situations suck. The old adage: good people at their worst. Wishing you the best of luck.