"Till death do we part." How often and how quickly do those words sometimes fade from our memory. And when they do, divorces can bring as much headache as heartache, as couples haggle over property, cash, future income, children and the support of those children.

It's a nasty business, but someone's got to be on top of it, and that person is your friendly, neighborhood divorce attorney. Despite the preponderance of jokes that liken lawyers to various predatory species, there's nothing like having a good one when you need one, such as when your fiancé wants you to sign a prenup, your ex-spouse wants two-thirds of your income or issues of child support arise.

If you're reluctant to get one, take some mental time to apply this adage to the family-law arena: Don't try this at home! Family law can be complicated, and making the wrong decision now can wind up costing you lots of money and headaches down the line.

However, if your marriage is on the rocks and you haven't seen an attorney yet, here's some background to consider while you wait for your appointment.

For a quick overview, click on "Top 10 things to know" at the upper left. Or work your way through "The details" sections on the left for more information on the topics in this lesson (calculators and other interactive features are marked with a symbol). The "Glossary" section provides an online dictionary of important terms. And "Take the test" is a quiz that checks what you've learned and offers suggestions for further study.