Lawyers

The practice of law is highly specialized. You will need to determine the specific area of law that applies to your case. From there, you need to determine how important the case and from there how much you are willing to pay in attorney fees. All these are critical factors. Once you decide on those aspects, the word of mouth is still the most reliable recommendation one can rely on. If you know a person you trust and they went through the same situation and hired a lawyer, they may have solid recommendations for you.
Most states have legal aid organizations. Even if you do not qualify for those services, they can provide you with advice and recommendations.
Failing all that, you may rely on many of the online resources and make sure you study all listings, not just the ones promoted to the top.