Do I Need a Lawyer or a Divorce Coach?
It depends on what you are trying to accomplish — and the honest answer is that many people going through divorce need both at different moments, or one more than the other depending on where they are in the process.
What a divorce attorney does
An attorney represents you legally. They file documents, appear in court on your behalf, negotiate with the other side, and advocate for your interests within the legal process. If your case is headed to trial, if your spouse has hired an aggressive attorney, or if children’s safety is at risk — you need legal representation. That is not a situation where coaching alone is sufficient.
What a divorce coach does
A divorce coach helps you understand what you are facing, what your options are, and what decisions you need to make — without the cost of full legal representation. A good divorce coach brings legal knowledge and a deep understanding of the emotional reality of divorce to every session. They help you prepare for what comes next, ask the right questions, and make informed decisions about your own life.
Where I fit
I am both. I am an experienced family law attorney with nearly twenty years of practice in Arizona and I am a divorce coach who co-wrote the book on it — literally. The Divorce Coach Handbook, now in its 2026 edition, was written by me and my mother and founding partner Cynthia L. Best from our combined decades of experience helping Arizona families through divorce.
What makes my coaching distinctive is that I bring trauma-informed practice to every session. Divorce is not just a legal process — it is one of the most destabilizing experiences a person can go through. Understanding the trauma dimension of what clients are experiencing shapes how I listen, how I explain options, and how I help people make decisions when they are under enormous stress.
That trauma-informed approach is not incidental to how I practice. It is central. Best Law Firm certified Dr. Jill Messing as the first domestic violence expert recognized by Maricopa County Court in 2011. Dr. Messing is a nationally recognized authority on domestic violence and a professor at Arizona State University. To be recognized as an expert in court a professional must meet a rigorous standard set by the judge — their credentials, methodology, and knowledge must be formally accepted before they can testify. We did that work. That is how seriously this firm takes the intersection of domestic violence, trauma, and family law. That depth of understanding informs everything I bring to a coaching session.
Questions I can help you answer
Are you preparing for a court date and not sure what to expect? I can walk you through it. Do you want to understand how child support is calculated in Arizona? I can explain the formula. Are you wondering what judges are actually doing with parenting time schedules right now? I know. Do you need to understand what a settlement offer means before you sign anything? I can review it with you. Are you in a situation involving domestic violence or an unsafe home environment and you do not know what the law allows you to do? I understand that intersection at a level very few attorneys in Arizona can match.
How to decide
If your situation is straightforward and both parties are cooperative — coaching and mediation may be all you need. If your situation involves significant assets, children’s safety, domestic violence, or an opposing party who is difficult or represented by aggressive counsel — you likely need full legal representation at some point, and coaching helps you understand when that moment has arrived.
The best first step is a conversation with me. For $100 I will spend up to one hour with you, listen to your situation, and give you an honest Game Plan — what you are facing, what your options are, and what level of help you actually need. No retainer. No commitment. Just clarity.
You may call for one consult and leave with everything you need. You may return for ongoing coaching as your case develops. Or you may decide at some point to retain Best Law Firm for full representation. All of those are valid paths. I help you figure out which one is right for you.
Only you can decide whether you need an attorney, a coach, or both. I can help you figure that out.
Get A Game Plan
We provide specific legal advice on your matter so you can move forward, lessen anxiety and have peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a divorce coach and a divorce attorney?
A divorce attorney represents you legally — filing documents, appearing in court, negotiating on your behalf, and advocating for your interests throughout the legal process. A divorce coach helps you understand your situation, your options, and your decisions without full legal representation. The coach does not appear in court or file a notice of appearance. At Best Law Firm, Tali Best Collins is both — a licensed Arizona family law attorney and a certified divorce coach. She can help you determine which level of service your situation actually requires.
Can I switch from coaching to full legal representation if my case gets more complicated?
Yes. Many clients begin with a consultation or coaching sessions and later retain Best Law Firm for full representation when their situation requires it. Each stage of service is its own engagement with its own fee agreement. You are never locked into one level of service. You decide what you need and when you need it.
Is divorce coaching less expensive than hiring an attorney?
Yes. Coaching is billed at $450 per hour with no retainer required. Full legal representation requires a $3,500 advance fee and is billed in six minute increments throughout the case. For clients who need guidance at specific moments rather than continuous representation, coaching can provide significant value at a fraction of the cost of full representation.
What happens at the $100 consultation?
You get up to one hour with Tali personally. She listens to your situation, evaluates the issues involved, explains what Arizona law says about your specific circumstances, and gives you a Game Plan — a clear road map of what comes next, what your realistic options are, and what decisions you need to make. Every person who contacts Best Law Firm starts here.
Do I need a divorce coach if I already have an attorney?
If you already have an attorney Best Law Firm will schedule a consultation first to check for conflicts and understand your full situation before any further engagement. Depending on the circumstances a consultation may be appropriate even when you are already represented, to help you understand your situation more clearly or prepare for specific moments in your case.
How do I know if my situation needs a trial attorney?
If your case involves significant assets that need to be protected, children whose safety is at risk, domestic violence, a spouse who is hiding documents or assets, or opposing counsel who is aggressive and unwilling to negotiate — you likely need full legal representation. A $100 consultation will tell you honestly which category your situation falls into and what your realistic options are.
Book a $100 consult at bestlawaz.com/talk-to-tali or call (480) 219-2433.
We have helped thousands of clients successfully navigate their family law matter.
Schedule your consultation and meet with our team to create a customized game plan and move forward confidently.
2,000+
Families Helped
1,500+
Trials & Settlements
18+
Years In Business
100+
Years of Combined Experience
Family Law Success Stories
Best Law Firm has helped thousands of families during the past 18 years. We help families through negotiation, settlements, mediations and court litigation when necessary. The goal is to resolve issues with the least amount of money and stress and only use court litigation as a last resort. Every family we meet is important to us so we would like to share just a few of our success stories with you.
We represented an unmarried father and were able to reunite him with his 4 year old son after the mother secretly moved him to Florida.
We represented a mother and were able to require the father to undergo therapy before he could have any parenting time with his three daughters who he had been physically and emotionally abusing. We had a certified domestic violence expert testify in the case.
We represented an unmarried mother and were able to reunite her with her 2 year old daughter after the father took the child in secret without permission or a court order.
We represented a husband who had a large estate and the wife wanted assets greater than their prenuptial agreement allowed.
We represented a wife in a long term marriage to obtain the spousal maintenance that she was due.
We represented the husband whose wife violated their divorce decree's spousal maintenance agreement by living with her boyfriend.
We represented an unmarried mother and were able to obtain a large child support order from the father who was a professional athlete and it was upheld on appeal. (Murphy)
We represented an unmarried father and were able to fight abuse allegations filed against him and get a court order for 50-50 parenting time for his 2 children.
We represented an unmarried father and were able to defend him against false allegations and obtain a court order where he was named primary custodial parent of his 3 year old son.
We represented a mother who lived in Italy whose teenager was unlawfully kept in Arizona after summer visitation by the Father. It was ordered for the child to return to his mom in Italy.
We represented a father whose 2 children were taken to Kansas after their divorce was filed in Arizona and the court ordered them to be returned.
We represented a father who lived in Texas and fought for primary custody of his daughter who lived in Arizona. The daughter was able to move to Texas because of the mother's abuse and neglect.
We represented a Canadian mother whose husband attempted to get a divorce in Arizona where he could keep the kids. Mother had no long term visa and would have lost her children. Tali Collins was a "friend of the court" and was heard at a Canadian hearing on the same matter that had been filed in BC.
We were the mediators for a mother who wanted to keep the community house (and equity) and the father who wanted to keep his community retirement. We were able to craft an agreement where she received more spousal maintenance up front which the husband agreed to pay to keep the community retirement he had earned.
We represented two ER doctors and mediated their parenting agreement which was drafted to help each doctor have the maximum time with their son.
We represented a father who was a doctor and obtained sole custody of his two daughters after the mother had a worsening mental illness.
We represented a father whose former wife attempted to enforce an out of state child support arrears calculation that was incorrect. We also won the case on appeal. (Glover)
We represented a mother and successfully protected against potential kidnapping by the father to a non Hague country, the UAE. The parenting time order put in safety measures and supervisors to protect the daughters.
We represented a father from Japan to obtain a parenting time order for his young son.
We represented a father to severe the rights of the mother with their two daughters after the mother was imprisoned for criminal abuse against them.
We represented a father and were able to negotiate a parenting plan with joint legal decision making and a 50-50 parenting plan for his son.
We represented a divorced couple against the grandmother who wanted visitation time with their daughter against the parents' wishes.
We represented a married couple and negotiated visitation with a former mother in law, grandmother to their son/step son.
We represented grandparents and negotiated parenting time with a previously estranged father of their grandson.
What Our Clients Say
Our experienced team at Best Law Firm has helped thousands of clients. See what some of them have to say about working with us.
J.S
Divorce Mediation“Ms. Best resolved my spousal maintenance issue with my husband and his attorney in two hours. She accomplished what the lawyers could not do in 9 months of litigation. I am very grateful for her help.”
B.W.
Divorce With Children“We hired this law firm to represent our son in trying to get joint custody. They did a fabulous job keeping us informed as to their plan each week. I have to say I do not think my son would be enjoying his daughter right now with his 50/50 custody if it was not for this law firm.”
T.N.
Custody And Father's Rights“You are the Best, before I retained counsel, I was not able to see my children and did not know what rights a father had in Arizona. I now have joint legal and physical custody. Thank you for all that you have done for my family.”
R.C.
Divorce Mediation“Thank You! Thank you! Thank You! Thank you for getting my son what he deserves! Thank you for finally ending this 9 year chaos…I slept like a little baby last night! You are all GREAT!”
MM
Family LawI’ve used Best Law Firm twice now. Excellent communication skills, rapid responses, and they know EXACTLY what they are doing. They look out for you.like one of their own and do everything they can to keep your case cost effective. Highly recommend!
J.G.
Family Law“The service provided at ‘Best’ was beyond exceptional. The staff at ‘Best’ were professional, going above and beyond their normal duties to help me. I would sincerely recommend ‘Best’ for anyone looking for help with their families legal matters.”
B.H.
Family Law“I have worked with Best Law Firm on two issues in the past 12 months. Their service is exceptional and the quality of their attorneys is second to none! So, their name (Best) is truly appropriate! I would recommend their legal services to anyone!”
C.J.
Divorce With ChildrenThank you for the excellence in your craft and communication each and every step of the way, for the care, for helping me to be brave and strong in holding someone accountable for their wrongdoings, for helping my sons and me to receive the best possible scenario out of the worst situation of my life.
TM
Family Law“Alan was very professional and quick, he had our paperwork done the same day. When I called him to follow up I was able to speak with him then. Highly recommend Alan, he’s very easy to talk to, he’s very knowledgeable, and he means business.”
Schedule Your Consultation
We can conduct your consultation by phone, zoom or in person. Call us today at (480) 219-2433 or fill out the form below.
Contact Information
Scottsdale, Arizona 85253
