1. Do you really even need to hire a lawyer? If you are unsure of your legal rights or responsibilities then there is no substitute for the advice of a lawyer, especially one with experience in divorce matters. However, once you have had your questions answered, you may find that you can handle your divorce on your own - or with just a little help.

In most cases spouses are able to work out the terms of their divorce without needing to ask a judge to actually decide anything. These are called uncontested divorces. They still involve a lot of necessary paperwork and court office staff are not able to do it for you or give you detailed help. Some are not even allowed to give you all the forms. But there are other options.

One is a do-it-yourself divorce kit. You can buy one of these for about $30 at most bookstores or office supply stores. They give you the basic information you need along with the blank forms you will need to fill out. It will still take some time to read through and figure out what they are telling you to do but it has the advantage of being the cheapest possible option.

Another option which saves you all the time of working through the kit and paper work on your own is to use of the divorce document assembly services advertised on the Internet. These cost about $250 for which you get all the documents you need ready for you to sign, date and file - along with complete instructions. This middle option is a bit more expensive than a kit but a lot easier and faster and still saves you a ton of money when compared to hiring a lawyer to do the same thing.

2. Consider mediation. In the mediation process you are still in the driver's seat, no judge gets involved and lawyers are optional. Instead a mediator, a professional trained in assisting spouses to negotiate with each other, will help you settle any issues you have been unable to agree upon. Even touchy issues are usually successfully resolved when both spouses are prepared to give mediation their best effort.

Mediators are professionals and a day of mediation will cost a few thousand dollars which you and your spouse can split. But if that saves each of you tens of thousands of dollars in legal bills then it is money well and wisely spent.

3. Free initial consultations are often offered by lawyers looking for your business. Before booking an appointment with a lawyer make sure the first 30 minutes or so will be free or else call someone else. It may be that after getting some preliminary information you will find that you won't need a lawyer to handle your divorce and you can try one of the cheaper alternatives.

4. Although almost all lawyers charge based on an hourly rate, they will bill you for every single minute they spend working on your file. That means writing, dictating, preparing documents, and even just speaking to you briefly on the phone. Every minute is costing you money so don't make frequent calls for updates. Instead establish some regular reporting system up front such as arranging to receive a copy of all letters and documents or a monthly report letter.

5. Negotiate a flat fee with your lawyer. This may not be easy, or even possible, as most lawyers charge by the hour. But if you can do it the peace of mind of knowing what the legal bill is going to look like at the end of the day is worth making the attempt. It also allows both you and your lawyer to focus on the real issues and not on who to minimize/maximize the bill.