Updated September 2025
Stamford, CT Practice Areas:
Child Custody Lawyers
High-Net-Worth Divorce Lawyers
Mediation Lawyers
The award-winning Stamford divorce lawyers at Freed Marcroft offer effective legal guidance through the divorce process, helping clients navigate the journey with confidence.
- Client-Centered Divorce Support: Freed Marcroft Divorce & Family Law is dedicated to guiding clients through divorce with a focus on the future, not the fight, by aligning their goals with a personalized approach to the process.
- Clear Communication and Honest Guidance: The firm values transparency and honesty, ensuring that clients are well-informed and empowered to make decisions based on realistic expectations, even when facing difficult truths.
- Comprehensive Divorce Options: With extensive knowledge and experience in litigation, mediation, and collaborative divorce, Freed Marcroft helps clients select the right approach for their unique situation, promoting the best possible outcomes for their families.
Divorce isn’t about dwelling on what went wrong – it’s about embracing what comes next. At Freed Marcroft, our experienced Stamford divorce lawyers walk alongside you during this pivotal moment, offering the guidance and assurance you need to step confidently into the next chapter.
Call today to book a meeting with us and talk about your situation.
What Makes Freed Marcroft Different
Your fresh start begins here. We don’t see divorce as something that happens to you – we see it as something you’re actively creating. Our role is to guarantee that every decision you make reflects who you are and where you want to go.
- Build the future you envision, not revisit old conflicts
- Make choices that honor your personal values and goals
- Create a strategic foundation for your new beginning
You’ll always know where you stand. The path ahead becomes clearer when you have all the facts. We believe you deserve complete honesty about your situation, your options, and what lies ahead – even when those conversations aren’t easy.
- Get a clear, unvarnished view of your circumstances
- Understand realistic timelines and potential outcomes
- Receive guidance you can trust, without empty reassurances
Your life, your choices. You know yourself better than anyone. We bring the legal knowledge and strategic insight, while you bring the wisdom about what works for your family. Together, we’ll make sure you have everything you need to make choices with confidence.
- Stay in control of every important decision
- Receive professional, seasoned guidance that respects your autonomy
- Feel fully informed and empowered at each step
We see around corners. Connecticut family law is all we focus on, which means our Stamford divorce lawyers can help you prepare for what’s coming long before you get there. When you know what to expect, you can move through this process with greater confidence and peace of mind.
- Get ahead of challenges before they arise
- Follow a clear path with predictable milestones
- Benefit from our exclusive focus on Connecticut family law
Understanding the Divorce Process: A Realistic Overview
Many clients ask us: “What will this journey actually look like?” It’s an important question that deserves an honest response.
Divorce essentially means restructuring a shared life into two independent paths and establishing the legal framework for both futures. This process encompasses both practical legal matters and emotional transitions, and these elements are more intertwined than many people anticipate.
Most of the time, our initial conversations with our clients focus less on comprehensive legal strategy and more on immediate practical concerns. “If I proceed with this decision, where will I be living next week? How will I manage the house payment this month? Should I inform my children’s teachers about our situation?” These pressing questions aren’t minor details – the answers affect your real life, and they also will form the stable foundation you need to make thoughtful long-term choices. We prioritize helping you establish short-term security so you can concentrate on developing appropriate permanent solutions.
From a legal perspective, Connecticut divorce proceedings require resolution of several key areas:
- Asset and debt distribution – including real estate, retirement funds, business ownership, and financial obligations
- Spousal maintenance (alimony) determinations
- Parenting plans and child support (when children are involved)
- Full financial transparency from both parties to ensure informed decision-making
Simultaneously, you’ll be engaged in the meaningful process of envisioning your future lifestyle. What type of co-parenting relationship do you envision? How will you structure your financial independence? What priorities will guide you as you shape your next chapter?
Through our experience with thousands of Connecticut divorce cases, our Stamford divorce lawyers have observed this pattern: clients who do best are those who view this as an active decision-making process rather than something beyond their influence. Certainly, it presents emotional challenges. There will be periods of doubt and confusion. However, you possess significantly more influence over the final outcome than you may realize.
Our role is to help you recognize your options clearly, comprehend the consequences of various approaches, and make choices that support your vision for the decade ahead.
How Much Will My Divorce Really Cost Me?
The first thing people want to know is usually about how much divorce will cost, which usually boils down to lawyer fees. Those fees depend on how complicated your situation is, whether you and your spouse can work things out together, and the choices you make as things move forward.
But here’s the thing – legal costs are only part of what you’re actually spending on divorce. You’re also looking at the emotional toll of different approaches, how much time each option takes, and whether your choice helps you reach your bigger goals like maintaining a good relationship with your kids or protecting your retirement.
We break down more than just what you’ll pay for legal help – we help you think through the real cost of each path based on what’s important to you personally. Sometimes spending more on legal representation upfront actually saves you money and heartache in areas that matter for your future happiness and security.
How Long Will My Connecticut Divorce Actually Take?
Based on what we see at Freed Marcroft, most divorces wrap up somewhere between 4 and 18 months, with the sweet spot usually being around 9 to 12 months.
A bunch of different things affect how long yours will take. The biggest factor is what you’re trying to accomplish – if you’re prioritizing speed versus getting every detail exactly right versus keeping costs down, that choice drives everything else. How well you and your spouse can work together makes a huge difference too, plus whether your finances are straightforward or complicated.
The divorce method you pick definitely impacts timing, but the quickest option for your neighbor might be terrible for your situation. When we’re working together, your Freed Marcroft team walks you through how each path fits with your timeline goals and everything else you’re trying to achieve.
The secret is having a clear plan right from the start instead of just seeing what happens. We help you take control of the process and make smart moves toward your new life, while keeping you focused on what really matters to you when big decisions come up.
What Are My Options for Getting Divorced in Connecticut?
No two divorces are the same, and what worked perfectly for someone else might be completely wrong for your situation. Here’s a breakdown of what’s out there and how each one actually works:
Litigation – This is the classic approach that most people think of – working through the court system. A lot of our clients use this structure to negotiate settlements with their spouse while having the court framework as backup. The trick is working with attorneys who keep their eyes on where you want to end up, not on rehashing old arguments.
What’s the catch? If you and your spouse don’t reach an agreement with the support of your attorneys, a Judge with limited time who doesn’t know your family will make the final calls. Plus, the legal fee investment associated with a full divorce trial is often significant.
Mediation – Here, you and your spouse sit down with a neutral third party who helps you hammer out agreements on everything. Some of our lawyers are certified mediators who can facilitate these discussions. The big advantage? You’re the ones making the decisions instead of handing that power over to a stranger in a robe.
The potential problem? This only works when both people are genuinely willing and able to compromise and be straight about money matters. If there’s a big power gap or someone’s hiding assets, mediation might not be the best approach.
Collaborative Divorce – This structured method keeps you away from courtrooms while giving you more support than mediation. Both of you have your own lawyers throughout, in addition to specialists like financial experts and child psychologists.
The catch? Everyone commits to stick with this process from the beginning. If it falls apart, you’ll both have to get new lawyers and start fresh.
Don’t Worry – We’ve Got Your Back. Our experienced Stamford divorce lawyers break down each choice for you, show you how they fit your particular circumstances, and help you pick the route that makes the most sense for what you’re trying to accomplish. You’re not doing this by yourself.
Building a Parenting Plan for Your Kids
When you have kids, figuring out a parenting arrangement that actually works for them is probably what keeps you up at night. We help you work through all the day-to-day logistics of sharing parenting responsibilities while making sure your children’s emotional needs and development stay front and center.
This isn’t typically a battle where somebody wins and somebody loses custody. It’s about creating a setup that helps your kids adjust and do well in this new family structure. We’re focused on building something that actually functions for your family moving forward, not rehashing what went wrong before.
How Do I Pick a Good Divorce Attorney in Stamford?
Finding the right divorce lawyer is probably one of the biggest choices you’ll face through all of this. You want to find the best divorce lawyers for you – in terms of pedigree, reputation, and style. The attorney you go with will shape not only how things turn out, but what the whole experience feels like along the way.
Find someone who actually listens to you. Your lawyer should want to hear about what you’re hoping to achieve, what matters most to you, and what you’re worried about before they start talking legal tactics. If they jump straight into “we’re going to fight this” or start making guarantees about results they can’t possibly promise, run the other way. When someone tells you they can get you everything you want, ask yourself if they’re being straight with you about what’s realistic.
Find a team that cares about what you want, not what they prefer. The right lawyers will help you figure out whether going to court, trying mediation, or doing collaborative divorce makes the most sense for what you’re trying to accomplish in your particular situation. They shouldn’t steer you toward whatever they like doing best – they should help you understand your options and pick what’s actually right for you.
Ask them how they think about divorce. What’s their take on the whole process? Do they see it as a war where someone has to lose, or as a big life change that you need to get through so you can build something better? How they answer will give you a pretty good idea of what it’ll be like to work with them.
Pay attention to how they communicate. You should feel okay asking questions and get answers that make sense without a bunch of lawyer-speak. If they make you feel like you’re bothering them during your first meeting or only talk in legal gibberish, think about whether that’s the kind of support you want when you’re already dealing with enough stress.
Think about the whole support system. Your divorce might involve more people than just your main attorney. Will you be working with paralegals, financial people, or other specialists? Understanding how the team works together helps you know what kind of backup you’ll have.
The lawyer who was perfect for your friend might be totally wrong for you. Go with your gut about who feels like they get your situation and what you’re trying to accomplish.
What Kind of Divorce Issues Do We Handle?
Our Stamford team works with clients on all sorts of family law matters:
- Divorce and separation cases (including those with significant assets and complicated finances)
- Custody and child support decisions
- Spousal support and alimony discussions
- Splitting up assets (including business appraisals and tricky financial situations)
- Changing court orders when life circumstances shift
- International cases and blended family dynamics
What clients tell us about their experience: People consistently share that they walk away feeling more secure about what’s ahead and ready to tackle their new life. Most mention that they felt genuinely listened to the whole way through and had a clear picture of their choices before making any big decisions.
Recognition and Results
- 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’s Stamford divorce lawyers:
“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.”
When journalists need reliable insights on divorce and family law topics, they reach out to our attorneys. You’ll find us quoted in major publications like Newsweek, featured on NBC Connecticut and WNPR, and providing commentary to everything from the Hartford Courant to lifestyle magazines like Martha Stewart Weddings and Redbook when they’re covering divorce trends and changes in family law.
What our clients say about the results:
“The honesty and diplomacy displayed by this firm was refreshing. Their kindness in dealing with a difficult situation and their willingness to work with me beyond reasonable expectation made for a pleasant situation. I will be returning to this firm if any needs should arise and I recommend everyone do the same. The care they showed in rectifying my situation and listening to my concerns make this firm top of my list.”
“The team at Freed Marcroft is outstanding at developing a strategy that is so personalized…not some cookie cutter response. Divorce is hard, and everyone I’ve met at the firm has been so impressive and professional and empathetic. I would highly recommend them to any of my friends who find themselves in the challenging situation of needing a divorce!!!”
“Super wonderful, lovely, sweet people. A joy to work with. Explained well and if there were questions, they never got upset or frustrated and took the time to very happily help with understanding. Would check in and see how I was doing, showing their genuine care. Wonderful company and people to work with. I was also very grateful to have people work with me that had LGBTQIA+ experience, or were part of the community. They made me feel very welcomed and not judged as a lesbian woman. I would absolutely recommend them.”
Ready to Start Moving Forward? Call Our Stamford Divorce Lawyers Today.
Going through a divorce is a huge life change, and just like any major transition, having the right people in your corner makes all the difference. We’re here to guide you through this whole thing with the knowledge and support you need to feel good about your decisions.
Whether you’re just starting to think about divorce or you’re already knee-deep in the process, we’d love to sit down and talk through what’s going on in your life and what your options look like. Give us a call today to book your first meeting with our team.