The old maxim goes: If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. For divorcing spouses, that may actually constitute legal advice in these days where Internet and social media sites have become a significant part of many people’s daily lives. Divorce is an emotionally charged topic, but letting it all out in a public forum can lead you right into court, sued for libel or having a harsher judgment levied against you in a divorce settlement.

“I wanted to have a child and she ultimately didn’t,” Budd said. “She said she just felt like she didn’t have maternal feelings.”

Far less has landed couples in divorce court, but the Burke, Va., couple — he an editor and she a nurse — made it through. Budd, now 46, said he gave up the parenting dream and channeled his fatherly feelings into volunteer work on behalf of poor kids all over the world, trips his wife came along on a couple of times.

Getting a lawyer seems like such a grownup thing to do but in case you hadn’t noticed, you are a grownup with a career, making real money, starting business ventures, making life changes and therefore you may need a lawyer. But how does one go about finding a lawyer?  Is it just a Google search thing or what? And what can a lawyer really do for you?