Freed Marcroft’s Meriden mediation lawyers bring focused, hands-on guidance to help you navigate divorce mediation with purpose, empowering you to make confident decisions and move toward a future that reflects what matters to you.
Key Takeaways:
- We start by learning about your situation, then help you assess whether mediation can support your priorities and address your most pressing concerns.
- With an exclusive concentration on Connecticut family law, we offer both full divorce mediation and mid-litigation mediation, tailoring our services to wherever you find yourself in the process.
- Whether you’re addressing questions about property, working out parenting arrangements, or determining financial support, we help you craft agreements that genuinely work for your family through a process that keeps decision-making in your hands.
At Freed Marcroft, we view mediation as a way to design what’s next rather than revisit what’s past. Our Meriden mediation lawyers help you maintain control throughout your divorce while working to minimize friction, manage costs, and keep things moving forward so you can concentrate on building the life ahead.
Interested in learning whether mediation could work for you? Contact us to set up a meeting with our team and discuss your options.
Why Choose Freed Marcroft for Mediation
You Keep Control of the Decisions
When divorce goes through the courts, a Judge who has only a glimpse into your family’s life ends up making binding choices about your future. Mediation flips that script. Our Meriden mediation lawyers keep conversations on track, but you and your spouse hold the authority to reach terms that actually reflect your reality.
- Take an active role in determining outcomes
- Create arrangements designed around how your family actually functions
- Pursue inventive solutions that courtroom procedures seldom allow
Collaboration Rather Than Combat
Mediation emphasizes teamwork over opposition, which can go a long way toward preserving mutual respect. This matters especially when children are involved, since the dynamic you establish now often carries over into how you’ll co-parent for years to come.
- Channel your energy toward resolving issues, not escalating them
- Help reduce the emotional weight your children may carry
- Build a cooperative foundation that extends beyond the divorce itself
Confidential and Adaptable
Court filings become part of the public record. Mediation remains private. Your sessions take place in confidential settings, shielding sensitive personal and financial details from outside access. You also set the pace – choosing session times that fit your calendar and deciding whether to meet virtually or in person.
- Protect family matters from becoming publicly available
- Arrange sessions around your availability
- Participate from home or join us at our offices, whichever works better for you
Focused on What Lies Ahead
Because Connecticut family law is the only area we practice, we help you consider not just immediate concerns but what’s coming down the road. Our Meriden mediation lawyers blend comprehensive legal knowledge with practical mediation experience, helping you recognize potential complications before they arise and structure agreements built to last.
- Forward-looking guidance at each stage
- Clarity about how choices made now may affect you later
- The benefit of attorneys who devote their practice entirely to this field
How Mediation Works in Connecticut
The question we get asked most is simple: “What am I actually getting into?” Divorce mediation is a collaborative, out-of-court process in which a neutral mediator helps you and your spouse work through disputes and make decisions together. For many couples, it offers a meaningful alternative to fighting things out in a courtroom.
In practical terms, mediation unfolds through a series of joint sessions with you, your spouse, and your mediator. Instead of issuing rulings the way a Judge does, your mediator facilitates dialogue and helps you navigate decisions as a team.
Our Meriden mediation lawyers guide you through all the issues Connecticut requires you to resolve before your divorce can be granted:
- Assets and debts: working out how to divide what you’ve accumulated together, from homes and investment accounts to retirement savings and outstanding obligations
- Parenting matters: establishing custody arrangements, creating time-sharing schedules, and determining who has authority over major decisions affecting your children
- Child support: setting up financial contributions that address your children’s ongoing needs
- Spousal support: determining whether alimony is warranted and, if so, how to structure it appropriately
Between sessions, you’ll typically have tasks to complete, such as pulling together financial records, thinking through your priorities, or considering potential trade-offs. This rhythm allows you to approach each decision deliberately rather than feeling pressured to resolve everything at once.
Having worked with many families through this process, we’ve observed that couples who approach mediation as a genuine chance to collaborate tend to walk away with agreements that serve them well.
Two Mediation Services We Offer
Freed Marcroft provides two distinct mediation paths, each designed for different situations:
Our Meriden mediation lawyers deliver comprehensive mediation for couples who want to resolve their divorce entirely outside the courtroom. Here’s what that typically involves:
- A neutral mediator guides productive dialogue between you and your spouse
- Sessions unfold over several weeks or months, providing space to reflect and seek input from review counsel
- The mediator helps you work through every decision Connecticut law requires
- You and your spouse make the ultimate calls, not someone with only superficial knowledge of your circumstances
- The process stays confidential, with the flexibility to meet virtually or face-to-face
- Overall costs are often more manageable than what litigation requires
Full mediation opens the door to customized solutions that account for your family’s unique dynamics while helping establish communication patterns that can strengthen your co-parenting relationship.
Mid-Litigation Mediation
For couples already engaged with the court system who want to pursue settlement rather than proceed to trial, our mid-litigation mediation with Judge Ken Shluger (Retired) presents an effective path forward. With more than two decades of experience presiding over cases, Judge Shluger brings valuable judicial perspective to complicated divorce and family law disputes that have hit a wall.
This option proves especially useful when:
- Good-faith settlement efforts haven’t produced results
- Specific contested issues could benefit from a Judge’s viewpoint
- Trial is approaching and you’d like to explore alternatives
- Containing litigation expenses has become a priority
Unlike full mediation, mid-litigation mediation keeps your existing litigation attorneys involved throughout – preparing strategic submissions, attending sessions, and collaborating with Judge Shluger on intricate legal questions.
The Importance of Review Counsel
Your mediator shares legal information and keeps discussions productive, but as a neutral party, they cannot provide advice tailored to either spouse. That’s why we encourage each person to retain their own mediation review counsel during full divorce mediation.
Review counsel acts as your personal advocate, supporting you in evaluating proposals and making choices that serve your individual interests. At Freed Marcroft, our Meriden mediation lawyers can serve you either as a mediator or as review counsel for clients who are mediating with other professionals.
Effective review counsel will:
- Clarify how Connecticut divorce law applies to your particular facts
- Help you define your objectives and priorities before mediation begins
- Provide perspective between sessions as you weigh various options
- Review proposed agreements to verify they’re fair, comprehensive, and legally enforceable
- Translate legal terminology into plain language so you fully grasp what you’re agreeing to
Engaging review counsel doesn’t weaken mediation – it reinforces your ability to participate with clarity and confidence.
Benefits of Choosing Mediation
Working with an experienced Meriden mediation lawyer can offer several meaningful advantages:
Control Over Your Future
You and your spouse determine the terms together rather than leaving those decisions to a Judge who knows little about your daily lives.
A Less Adversarial Dynamic
Mediation’s cooperative approach can dial down hostility and help preserve a functional relationship, which proves particularly valuable if you’ll continue interacting as co-parents.
Confidentiality
Sessions happen privately rather than in open court, so personal and financial details stay between you.
A Potentially Faster Process
Without waiting on packed court calendars, mediation often reaches resolution more quickly than litigation.
Cost Efficiency
Steering clear of drawn-out court battles can mean lower overall expenses. Divorce mediation in Connecticut generally ranges from $5,000 to $15,000.
Creative Possibilities
Mediation accommodates innovative, tailored arrangements that standard court processes may not permit.
Durable Agreements
When both parties help shape the outcome, compliance tends to be stronger and subsequent conflicts fewer.
Could Mediation Be Right for You?
Mediation has much to offer, but it isn’t suited to every circumstance. Here are some considerations as you evaluate your options:
The Way You and Your Spouse Communicate
Productive mediation depends on both parties engaging in honest, respectful discussion. If you and your spouse can work through tough topics constructively, mediation may be a viable path. Where there’s a significant power imbalance, patterns of controlling behavior, or any history of abuse, a different approach might better serve your interests.
Openness About Financial Matters
Mediation hinges on both spouses being transparent about assets, income, and debts. If you have concerns that your spouse might conceal information or distort the financial picture, litigation’s formal discovery procedures may offer better safeguards.
What You Want From the Process
Mediation typically appeals to people who want to participate actively in shaping their agreement and are open to compromise. If you’d feel more comfortable with your attorney present during negotiations, collaborative divorce could be a better match.
The best way to determine whether mediation suits your situation is to talk it through with our team. We can review your circumstances and help you understand what each option involves.
Finding the Right Mediation Attorney
Who you work with makes a difference – not just in terms of results, but in how the process feels along the way. Here’s what to look for:
Seek Someone Who Listens First
Find an attorney who takes genuine interest in understanding your goals, concerns, and priorities before moving to strategy. A skilled mediator creates space for both individuals to feel heard and acknowledged.
Look for Guidance, Not Pressure
Strong attorneys help you figure out whether mediation, collaborative divorce, or litigation makes the most sense for your circumstances rather than steering you toward their preferred approach. The recommendation should grow out of your needs.
Inquire About Training and Background
Capable mediators have focused training in negotiation and conflict resolution. Our team includes mediators trained through Harvard Law School’s Program on Negotiation.
Evaluate How They Communicate
You should feel comfortable asking questions and receive clear, jargon-free answers. If an attorney seems rushed or speaks primarily in technical terms, consider whether that’s the support you need during an already challenging period.
Go With Your Gut
Fit is personal. The mediator who worked well for a friend or colleague may not be the right match for you. Pay attention to whether you feel genuinely understood and whether the attorney seems invested in what you’re trying to accomplish.
Flexible Options: Virtual and In-Person
Because convenience matters, Freed Marcroft offers both remote and in-person mediation sessions.
Virtual mediation lets you participate from any private location with a reliable internet connection – whether you’re in Connecticut, out of state, or traveling. It eliminates commute time, simplifies scheduling, and allows you to join from a setting where you feel at ease.
If you prefer sitting down together face-to-face, our offices provide a professional, neutral space for in-person meetings. Whichever format you select, our Meriden mediation lawyers deliver the same focused, confidential service tailored to your needs.
Services Our Meriden Mediation Lawyers Provide
Our Meriden mediation lawyers assist clients with a range of family law matters:
- Full divorce mediation as an alternative to litigation
- Mid-litigation mediation with Judge Ken Shluger (Retired)
- Mediation review counsel services
- Property, asset, and debt division
- Parenting plan development and custody arrangements
- Child support and alimony discussions
- Post-judgment modifications through mediation
- Legal separation mediation
What Clients Say About Freed Marcroft
Clients frequently tell us they finish the process feeling significantly more confident about what lies ahead and genuinely ready to move forward. A theme we hear often: they felt truly listened to throughout and gained real clarity about their options before making major decisions.
Recognition and Client Feedback
- Law Firm 500 awards – ranked #18 in 2018 and honored every year since 2017 among America’s fastest-growing law firms
- Inc 5000 List – repeatedly recognized among America’s fastest-growing private companies (less than 0.05% of all U.S. companies achieve this honor)
- Hartford Magazine Best Law Firm/Best Family Law Firm – winner every year since 2014
What the experts say about Freed Marcroft:
“Divorce and relationship gurus Meghan Freed and Kristen Marcroft have assembled a preeminent team of family law attorneys to provide expert assistance during these trying times.”
—Amazon’s myAWS Legal Column
The Connecticut Law Tribune has described our founding partner as a “Harvard Law-educated Shipman & Goodwin alum who founded Freed Marcroft to deliver corporate-level services to small-business and independent clients.”
Fashion Week Daily notes that “while other attorneys follow trends, Meghan Freed creates them. A trusted thought leader and divorce attorney, she can help reshape your life’s narrative and empower you to move forward.”
Media Recognition
When journalists need trusted voices on divorce and family law topics, they reach out to our team. We’ve been featured in publications like Newsweek, appeared on NBC Connecticut and WNPR, and provided commentary to outlets from the Hartford Courant to lifestyle magazines covering family law developments.
What Clients Are Saying:
“Freed Marcroft is the most amazing firm you could possibly hire. Any other choice is a wrong choice. They are very patient and over-explain every single detail. Reagan was my point person and not only does she answer on the first ring, but if you email her, by the time you open your next app she responds. Thank you for everything you guys have done!”
“My biggest takeaway from my experience was that you need serious lawyers for a serious time in your life. My ex’s lawyer had a ‘bulldog’ reputation, turned out to be all bark no bite in court. Freed Marcroft was way better in front of the Judge than my ex’s attorney. More prepared and more knowledgeable, and the Judge respected her more.”
“Everyone we encountered was very professional, efficient, and pleasant. They seemed to have respect for our busy schedules and made all necessary meetings convenient and succinct. We are inspired by their commitment to protecting the rights of families and appreciate the work they do.”
Begin Your Mediation Journey Today
Think of mediation as an opportunity to shape a future that aligns with your values and serves your family well. Our Meriden mediation lawyers are here to help you envision what’s possible and work toward it with less friction, greater autonomy, and a strong foundation for what comes next.
We start with a Goals & Planning Conference to understand your vision for the future and help you determine whether mediation makes sense for your circumstances. Our team will walk you through what to expect, answer your questions, and support you in taking meaningful first steps toward resolution.
Whether you’re exploring mediation from the beginning or you’re already in litigation and looking for a path to settlement, contact us today to schedule a meeting and start working toward your next chapter.