Freed Marcroft’s New Britain mediation lawyers provide thoughtful, experienced guidance to help you work through divorce mediation with clarity, supporting you in making well-grounded decisions and moving toward a future that genuinely reflects your priorities.
Key Takeaways:
- We take time to understand your specific circumstances before helping you evaluate whether mediation is suited to your goals and the needs of your family.
- Our practice is dedicated entirely to Connecticut family law, which allows us to bring meaningful depth to both full divorce mediation and mid-litigation mediation, shaping our approach around where you are in the process.
- Whether your situation involves dividing property, establishing parenting arrangements, or working through support questions, we help you develop agreements that make sense for your family through a process that keeps you in the driver’s seat.
At Freed Marcroft, we see mediation as a chance to define what your next chapter looks like rather than remain anchored to the difficulties that brought you here. Our New Britain mediation lawyers support you in retaining control of your divorce while working to reduce conflict, keep costs manageable, and maintain momentum so you can focus your energy on the life ahead.
Wondering whether mediation could be a fit for your situation? Contact us to schedule a meeting with our team and begin exploring your options.
Why New Britain Families Choose Freed Marcroft for Mediation
You Retain Authority Over the Outcome
When divorce moves through the court system, a Judge who has limited familiarity with your household ends up making binding decisions that shape your family for years. Mediation works differently. Our New Britain mediation lawyers guide discussions productively, but you and your spouse hold the authority to reach terms that genuinely reflect your lives and your values – with a judge reviewing and approving the final agreement before it becomes a court order.
- Take an active role in determining what comes next for your family
- Build agreements around your household’s actual circumstances and needs
- Pursue flexible, creative arrangements that courtroom procedures may not accommodate
A Collaborative Approach to a Difficult Process
Mediation centers on cooperation rather than opposition, which can help preserve mutual respect between you and your spouse. When children are involved, the dynamic you establish during this process often carries over into how you will function as co-parents in the years ahead.
- Direct your energy toward finding workable solutions rather than deepening conflict
- Help reduce the emotional burden your children may carry during this transition
- Lay the groundwork for a co-parenting relationship that can function well going forward
Confidential and Built Around Your Schedule
Court proceedings enter the public record. Mediation does not. Your sessions take place in private settings, keeping sensitive personal and financial information out of public view. You also have flexibility over timing, choosing when sessions occur and whether you prefer to participate virtually or in person.
- Keep personal and financial matters away from publicly accessible records
- Schedule sessions around your availability and existing commitments
- Participate from a location that works for you, or come to our offices
Prepared for What Lies Down the Road
Because Connecticut family law is where we concentrate our practice exclusively, we help you look beyond the immediate questions to what is further ahead. Our New Britain mediation lawyers bring thorough legal knowledge and practical mediation experience together, helping you anticipate potential complications and structure agreements designed to hold up over time.
- Guidance that accounts for future developments, not only present concerns
- Perspective on how the decisions you make today may affect your situation later
- The depth that comes from attorneys who dedicate their work entirely to this area of law
How the Mediation Process Works in New Britain
One of the questions we hear most often is an understandable one: “What does this process actually involve?” Divorce mediation is a voluntary, out-of-court process in which a neutral mediator helps you and your spouse work through disagreements and reach decisions together. For many couples, it offers a meaningful alternative to the adversarial nature of courtroom litigation.
In practical terms, mediation typically unfolds through a series of joint sessions involving you, your spouse, and your mediator. Rather than issuing rulings, your mediator facilitates conversation and supports both parties in navigating decisions collaboratively.
Our New Britain mediation lawyers guide you through all the matters Connecticut requires you to resolve before your divorce can be finalized:
- Property and debt division: working out how to fairly allocate what you have built together, from real estate and retirement savings to investment accounts and outstanding obligations
- Parenting responsibilities: establishing custody arrangements, developing time-sharing schedules, and determining who holds authority over significant decisions affecting your children
- Child support: setting up financial contributions structured to address your children’s ongoing needs
- Spousal support: evaluating whether alimony is appropriate for your situation and, if so, how it should be structured
Between sessions, you will typically have preparation to work through, whether that means gathering financial records, considering your priorities, or thinking through potential trade-offs. This structure allows you to approach each decision at a thoughtful pace rather than feeling pressured to resolve everything at once.
Based on our experience working with Connecticut families, couples who bring a genuine spirit of collaboration to the mediation process tend to come away with agreements that reflect their real circumstances and serve them well over time.
Two Mediation Services We Offer
Freed Marcroft provides two distinct mediation paths, each suited to different situations and needs:
Full Divorce Mediation
Our New Britain mediation lawyers offer comprehensive mediation for couples who want to resolve their divorce outside the courtroom entirely. Here is how it generally works:
- A neutral mediator leads productive conversation between you and your spouse
- Sessions unfold over several weeks or months, giving you time to reflect and consult with review counsel between meetings
- The mediator guides you through every decision Connecticut law requires
- The agreement you reach together is reviewed and approved by a judge before becoming a final court order – preserving the distinction between an arrangement you shaped and one handed down from the bench
- The process remains fully confidential, with the flexibility to meet virtually or face-to-face
- Overall costs are frequently more manageable than what contested litigation requires
Full mediation creates space to develop individualized solutions that account for your family’s particular dynamics while building communication patterns that can support a healthier co-parenting relationship.
Mid-Litigation Mediation
For couples already engaged with the court system who would prefer to reach a settlement rather than proceed to trial, our mid-litigation mediation with Judge Ken Shluger (Retired) offers an effective path forward. With more than two decades of experience presiding over cases, Judge Shluger brings valuable judicial perspective to complex divorce and family law matters that have reached a standstill.
This option tends to be particularly well-suited when:
- Good-faith settlement efforts have not yet produced results
- Specific contested issues could benefit from a judicial lens
- Trial is approaching and exploring alternatives makes sense
- Managing ongoing litigation expenses has become a priority
Unlike full mediation, mid-litigation mediation keeps your existing litigation attorneys engaged throughout, preparing strategic materials, participating in sessions, and working alongside Judge Shluger on complicated legal questions.
The Role of Review Counsel
Your mediator provides legal information and keeps discussions on track, but as a neutral party, they are not in a position to offer advice tailored to either spouse individually. For that reason, we encourage each person to work with their own mediation review counsel during full divorce mediation.
Review counsel serves as your personal advisor, helping you evaluate proposals and make decisions that align with your individual interests and goals. At Freed Marcroft, our New Britain mediation lawyers work both as mediators and as review counsel for clients who are mediating with other professionals.
Effective review counsel will:
- Explain how Connecticut divorce law applies to your particular facts and situation
- Help you clarify your objectives and priorities before mediation begins
- Provide perspective between sessions as you weigh different options and proposals
- Review draft agreements to verify they are fair, comprehensive, and legally enforceable
- Translate legal concepts into accessible language so you fully understand what you are agreeing to
Engaging review counsel does not work against the mediation process. It strengthens your capacity to participate with confidence and a clear understanding of where things stand.
What Mediation Can Offer
Choosing mediation with an experienced New Britain mediation lawyer can provide several meaningful advantages:
- Decision-Making Authority: You and your spouse remain in the driver’s seat on the terms, with a judge reviewing and approving the final agreement before it takes legal effect rather than dictating the outcome from the bench.
- A Less Adversarial Experience: Mediation’s collaborative structure can reduce hostility and help preserve a functional relationship, which carries particular value when you will be co-parenting going forward.
- Privacy: Sessions occur outside of open court, so personal and financial details remain between you and are not entered into the public record.
- Potentially Faster Resolution: Without relying on packed court schedules, mediation can reach resolution more quickly than litigation in many situations.
- Cost Considerations: Avoiding drawn-out court proceedings can mean lower overall expenses. Divorce mediation in Connecticut generally ranges from $5,000 to $15,000.
- Room for Tailored Solutions: Mediation accommodates creative, customized arrangements that standard court processes may not permit.
- Agreements That Tend to Hold: When both parties participate in shaping the outcome, follow-through tends to be stronger and subsequent disputes fewer.
Is Mediation a Good Fit for Your Situation?
Mediation has a great deal to offer, but it is not suited to every set of circumstances. Here are some considerations worth reflecting on as you evaluate your options:
How You and Your Spouse Are Able to Communicate
Productive mediation depends on both parties being able to engage in honest, respectful conversation. If you and your spouse can work through difficult topics constructively, mediation may be a viable path. In situations involving a meaningful power imbalance, patterns of controlling behavior, or any history of abuse, a different approach may better serve your interests.
Transparency About Financial Matters
Mediation relies on both spouses being candid about assets, income, and debts. If you have concerns that your spouse might conceal information or misrepresent the financial picture, litigation’s formal discovery procedures may offer stronger safeguards.
What You Are Looking for in the Process
Mediation tends to appeal to people who want to play an active role in crafting their agreement and are prepared to seek common ground. If you would feel more at ease with your attorney present during settlement discussions, collaborative divorce could be a better fit.
The most reliable way to determine whether mediation suits your circumstances is to talk it through with our team. We can review your situation and walk you through what each option realistically involves.
How to Choose the Right Mediation Attorney
The attorney you work with has an effect not only on the outcome but on how the entire experience feels. Here is what to consider:
Look for Someone Who Listens Before They Advise
Seek an attorney who takes genuine interest in understanding your goals, concerns, and circumstances before moving into strategy. A thoughtful mediator creates room for both individuals to feel heard and respected throughout the process.
Find Guidance That Follows Your Needs
Skilled attorneys help you assess whether mediation, collaborative divorce, or litigation makes the most sense for your specific situation rather than directing you toward a default approach. The recommendation should grow from your circumstances, not from a preferred method.
Ask 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.
Consider How They Communicate
You should feel comfortable asking questions and receive clear, accessible answers. If an attorney seems rushed or communicates primarily in technical legal language, reflect on whether that dynamic will serve you well during what can be a demanding period.
Pay Attention to Your Instincts
Fit is personal. The mediator who worked well for a colleague or family member may not be the right match for you. Trust your sense of who genuinely understands your situation and what you are working to accomplish.
Virtual and In-Person Options
Because flexibility matters, Freed Marcroft offers both remote and in-person mediation sessions.
Virtual mediation allows you to participate from any private location with a reliable internet connection, whether you are in Connecticut, traveling, or based out of state. It removes commute time, simplifies scheduling, and lets you join from a setting where you feel at ease.
If in-person interaction is your preference, our offices provide a professional, neutral environment for face-to-face sessions. Whichever format you choose, our New Britain mediation lawyers deliver the same attentive, confidential service tailored to your needs.
Services Our New Britain Mediation Lawyers Provide
Our New Britain mediation lawyers assist clients across a range of family law matters:
- Full divorce mediation as an alternative to court proceedings
- Mid-litigation mediation with Judge Ken Shluger (Retired)
- Mediation review counsel services
- Asset, property, 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 Working With Freed Marcroft
Clients often share that they finish the process feeling considerably more prepared for what lies ahead and genuinely ready to step into the next chapter of their lives. A theme that comes up consistently: they felt truly understood throughout and gained real clarity about their options before making any significant decisions.
Notable 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:
“Freed Marcroft is America’s most distinctively different divorce firm, focusing exclusively on this area. The firm’s depth in litigation, mediation, and collaborative law means they are well-positioned to help couples prepare agreements that aim to minimize conflict and foster durable solutions.” — CEO Weekly (2025)
“What makes Freed Marcroft different is they treat divorce as a transformation opportunity rather than a battlefield. They’re the only firm that will tell you when you don’t need their most expensive services.” — Oh My Dish (2025)
“Experience speaks volumes… Freed Marcroft Divorce Lawyers have built a reputation for winning major cases.” — Google Cloud Legal Blog (2023)
Media Recognition
When journalists seek well-informed perspectives on divorce and family law topics, they reach out to our team. We have been featured in Newsweek, appeared on NBC Connecticut and WNPR, and contributed commentary to outlets ranging from the Hartford Courant to lifestyle publications covering family law developments.
Client Success
“We have loved working with Freed Marcroft! They are so organized, diligent and professional. They keep us on track with paperwork, which we really appreciate given our hectic schedules. We highly recommend them!”
“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, but turned out to be all bark and 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.”
“I was very impressed with the high level of efficiency and organization of this law firm. When you are tackling complicated legal matters, it’s an investment and something you can not take lightly. If you hire Freed Marcroft, your investment will be met with a compassionate and competent team of professionals…”
Begin Your Mediation Journey Today
Mediation is an opportunity to build a future that reflects what matters to you and works for your family. Our New Britain mediation lawyers are here to help you understand what is possible and move toward it with less friction, greater say in the outcome, and a strong foundation for what comes next.
We begin with a Goals & Planning Conference to learn about your vision and help you assess whether mediation is the right approach 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 are considering mediation from the outset or you are already in litigation and looking for a path to settlement, contact us today to schedule a meeting and begin working toward your next chapter.