Is it best to go to a Lawyer, a debt relief agency or try to settle with the Credit Card companies yourselves?

Yes all of them are best depending on your specific needs.

The amount of debts, what type they are and how old they are. There is no one right way each time.

Hi, LWP!

As mentioned, it does depend on a number of factors as to which would be the best way to proceed.

In my own dealings with credit card companies, if my debt hasn't gone to the litigation stage yet, I've found that calling the companies up on the phone, with my having a witness on another phone, has worked every time to arranged some kind of payment schedule that I can afford.

Just my thoughts...

Thanks!