Perhaps not surprisingly it is advisable to seek legal advice as soon as you are aware that you may be encountering a legal dispute.
From my perspective it seems that sometimes people are reluctant to contact a lawyer for fear of escalating a situation. I like to tell perspective clients that no matter what happens they remain in the driver’s seat. Your legal matter is yours alone and I take instruction from you. This means that no one ever needs to know that you sought legal advice unless you decide to tell them.
For this reason, you should feel comfortable in contacting lawyers knowing that no one will ever know you did so. True peace of mind comes from having the knowledge required to make informed decisions about matters that affect you.