Talking to a lawyer de-mystifies the options for you. For people that say "I know nothing about this" it is especially helpful. Often you will be able to have a consultation for free.
Ask around now for recommendations. Think about who would know a good attorney.
Mediation is an adjunct. You still need an attorney to file papers and so on, but you can use a mediator to avoid paying double attorneys fees to do all the negotiation.
Another alternative of course, if you are divorcing, is to do the negotiation yourself, and then just involve the attorney to have the papers signed and filed. This works if you have an "amicable" split.
If you are DBing, you may want to weigh your options carefully. Using an attorney can jack the cost but can also slow the entire process down, which you may prefer. Using a mediator may speed the process up, but may not. Sometimes counselors (marriage counselors) can recommend mediators and attorneys who don't necessarily want to rush off to divorce.
Finally, LMG, I would suggest reading some books on the topic.
M 43 S14 S13 D11 D7 Divorce final: Jan 2009 Making it up as I go....
