regarding Starsky's advice for an initial consultation with a family law attorney - that is an excellent idea. in my case (when this was recommended by others in this forum) I found out that the bar association in my area has an "attorney referral" service, where they will give you a half-hour initial consultation with an attorney specializing in whatever field you need (in this case, family law) for a very reasonable rate. I found this consultation to be extremely useful and informative, and I'm glad I did it. even though I am not planning on divorce, it is important to know what to expect. *knowledge is power*.
