If you end up "hiring" someone to do the work...
MAKE
SURE
THEY
ARE
INSURED!!!
Have them submit a certificate of liability to you or your insurance carrier. Better yet, make sure your insurance carrier can handle the details. Otherwise, whether you do the work, or a contractor handles the job, someone/everyone is covered for any possibility.
Otherwise, you, the missus and kiddies, will be bunkin' at the local Salvation Army, 'cause someone else now owns what you used to...
Trees bite.