Updated June 3, 2026
Freed Marcroft’s Stamford mediation lawyers provide clear-eyed, purposeful guidance to help you move through divorce mediation with confidence and the support you need to make sound decisions that align with the future you envision for your family.
Key Takeaways:
- We invest time learning about your circumstances before helping you evaluate whether mediation is well-suited to your goals and what your family needs from this process.
- Our exclusive focus on Connecticut family law allows us to bring depth and experience to both full divorce mediation and mid-litigation mediation, adjusting our approach based on where you are in the process.
- Whether you are working through property questions, establishing parenting arrangements, or determining financial support, we help you develop agreements that reflect your family’s actual situation through a process that allows you to maintain autonomy over your future.
At Freed Marcroft, we treat mediation as a way to shape what lies ahead rather than remain anchored in what came before. Our Stamford mediation lawyers support you in holding onto control throughout your divorce while working to reduce friction, keep costs reasonable, and maintain progress so you can direct your energy toward the life you are building.
Wondering whether mediation could be a fit for your situation? Contact us to schedule a meeting with our team and explore what is possible.
Why Freed Marcroft for Mediation in Stamford
The Decisions Stay With You
Courtroom litigation places a Judge – someone with only a limited view of your household – in the position of making determinations that shape your family for years. Mediation changes that arrangement.
Our Stamford mediation lawyers keep discussions productive, but you and your spouse retain the authority to reach terms that genuinely reflect your lives and values. Then, a Judge reviews and approves the final agreement before it becomes a court order.
- Participate directly in determining what your family’s future looks like
- Build agreements grounded in your household’s actual circumstances and needs
- Pursue creative arrangements that courtroom procedures may not readily accommodate
Partnership Over Opposition
Mediation is built around cooperation rather than confrontation, which can go a long way toward preserving mutual respect between you and your spouse. When children are involved, the foundation you establish during this process often influences how you will function as co-parents in the years that follow.
- Direct your efforts toward resolving issues constructively rather than deepening conflict
- Help reduce the emotional burden your children may carry during this transition
- Establish a working dynamic that can extend well beyond the divorce itself
Private and Scheduled Around You
Court proceedings enter the public record. Mediation does not. Your sessions take place in confidential settings, keeping sensitive personal and financial information out of public view. You also have meaningful input over the timing, choosing when sessions occur and whether you prefer to participate virtually or in person.
- Keep family and financial matters away from publicly accessible records
- Arrange sessions around your schedule and existing commitments
- Join from a location that works for you, or meet at our offices
Thinking Past the Present
Because Connecticut family law is our sole practice area, we help you look beyond the immediate questions to what is further down the road. Our Stamford mediation lawyers combine thorough legal knowledge with practical mediation experience, positioning you to identify potential complications early and build agreements designed to hold up over time.
- Guidance that accounts for future developments, not only what is in front of you now
- Perspective on how the choices you make today may shape your situation later
- The advantage of working with attorneys who dedicate their practice entirely to this field
How the Mediation Process Works in Stamford
A question we hear often from people exploring their options: “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 talk through disagreements and arrive at decisions together. For couples who want to avoid the adversarial nature of litigation, it offers a meaningful alternative path.
In practical terms, the process unfolds through a series of joint sessions with you, your spouse, and your mediator. Rather than issuing rulings the way a Judge would, your mediator facilitates dialogue and supports both parties in navigating decisions collaboratively.
Our Stamford 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 and what you owe together – from real estate and investment accounts to retirement savings and outstanding financial obligations
- Parenting responsibilities: establishing custody arrangements, developing time-sharing schedules, and determining who holds authority over significant decisions affecting your children’s education, health, and upbringing
- Child support: setting up financial contributions that address your children’s ongoing needs in a practical, sustainable way
- Spousal support: evaluating whether alimony is appropriate for your situation and, if so, how it should be structured
Between sessions, you will generally have work to do like assembling financial records, reflecting on your priorities, or weighing how different proposals might affect your circumstances. This rhythm gives you space to approach each decision at a deliberate pace rather than feeling compelled to resolve everything at once.
Having guided many families through this process, we have found that couples who bring a genuine spirit of collaboration to mediation tend to come away with agreements that reflect their real circumstances and serve them well.
Two Mediation Services We Offer
Freed Marcroft provides two distinct mediation paths, each suited to different situations and needs:
Full Divorce Mediation
Our Stamford mediation lawyers deliver comprehensive mediation for couples who want to resolve their divorce outside the courtroom entirely. Here is how it generally unfolds:
- A neutral mediator leads productive conversation between you and your spouse
- Sessions take place 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 you to address
- The agreement you reach together is reviewed and approved by a Judge before it becomes 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 for 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 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 by preparing strategic materials, attending sessions, and working alongside Judge Shluger on complicated legal questions as they arise.
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. That is why we encourage each person to work with their own mediation review counsel during full divorce mediation.
Review counsel serves as your personal advisor by helping you evaluate proposals and make decisions that align with your individual interests and goals. At Freed Marcroft, our Stamford mediation lawyers work in both capacities: 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 Stamford mediation lawyer can provide several meaningful advantages:
- Decision-Making Authority: You and your spouse determine the terms that reflect your actual circumstances, with a Judge reviewing and approving the final agreement before it takes legal effect – rather than having the outcome dictated 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 co-parenting will be an ongoing part of your lives.
- Privacy: Sessions occur outside of open court, so personal and financial details remain between you and are not entered into the public record.
- A Potentially Faster Resolution: Without relying on packed court schedules, mediation can reach resolution more efficiently than litigation in many circumstances.
- 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 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 considerable advantages, but it is not suited to every set of circumstances. Here are some considerations worth reflecting on:
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 and well-being.
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 work toward 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.
Choosing the Right Mediation Attorney
The attorney you work with affects not only your results but how the entire experience feels. Here is what to look for:
Look for Someone Who Listens Before They Advise
Seek an attorney who takes genuine interest in understanding your goals, concerns, and circumstances before recommending a direction. A skilled mediator creates space for both individuals to feel acknowledged and understood throughout the process.
Find Guidance That Follows Your Needs
Strong attorneys help you assess whether mediation, collaborative divorce, or litigation makes the most sense for your specific circumstances rather than steering you toward a preferred approach. The recommendation should stem from your situation rather than habit.
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 free of unnecessary legal jargon. If an attorney seems consistently rushed or communicates primarily in technical terms, consider whether that dynamic will serve you well during 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. Pay attention to whether you feel genuinely understood and whether the attorney seems invested in what you are trying to accomplish.
Virtual and In-Person Options
Because flexibility and convenience matter, 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 Stamford mediation lawyers deliver the same attentive, confidential service tailored to your needs and preferences.
Services Our Stamford Mediation Lawyers Provide
Our Stamford mediation lawyers assist clients across a wide 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 Freed Marcroft
Clients often share that they finish the process feeling considerably more prepared for what lies ahead and genuinely ready to step into their next chapter. 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
“I can’t speak highly enough about Meghan Freed and her team. The stress level involved in a divorce is extremely high, and Meghan and her staff somehow managed to make the process less stressful and as painless as possible. I felt confident that Meghan was fighting for my best interests, and she delivered outstanding results.”
“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.”
“This law firm really made me feel comfortable, kept in contact as promised, their professionalism was on point and I’d recommend them for those in need of assistance. If you want to win your case, please contact this law firm. You won’t regret it.”
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 Stamford 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.