Marissa is a native Rhode Islander and since a young age, always gravitated towards the study of law, and in particular Family Law. During high school and college, she volunteered in the Rhode Island Family Court System. Marissa attended Providence College for her undergraduate degree (Go Friars!) where she was a member of the Providence Women’s Tennis Team. After graduating, she attended Quinnipiac University School of Law, which ultimately led her to fall in love with Connecticut and she has resided here since. Outside of law, Marissa enjoys playing tennis, as well as the piano, is an avid traveler, the reader of good novels, and, above all, loves to cook – which is probably a result of her Italian heritage.
After law school, Marissa began her own private practice (Law Office of Marissa L. Bigelli, LLC), focusing on Matrimonial Law, while also handling small commercial transactions, probate and juvenile matters. After joining a Shelton-based firm for a period of time, Marissa was fortunate to join Reich and Truax, PLLC, where she has been a partner since September 2023. While the firm handles an assortment of matters, including divorce, prenuptial agreements, post judgment matters, mediation and custody litigation, the firm prides itself on its passion for child-centered advocacy.
Certified by the State of Connecticut as a Guardian ad Litem (GAL), a portion of Marissa’s practice is Guardian ad litem representation, as well as being appointed as Attorney for the Minor Child (AMC). She volunteers her time as a Special Master in the Judicial Districts of Milford, Bridgeport and Stamford. Marissa also has her certification in Mediation, after completing the 40-hour training course in 2017. She also completed the American Bar Association Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute, an eight-day intensive training for family law litigators.
Marissa is admitted to both the Connecticut and Rhode Island (inactive status) Bar, as well as the United States Supreme Court. She is an active member of the legal community. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, recently serving as Treasurer, and now Secretary. She previously was a part of the Connecticut Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Committee, servings as both a Family Law Chair and a Senior Advisor. Marissa is a member of the American Bar Association, serving on the Marital Property committee, as a vice co-chair for the 2023-2024 year and co-chair in 2024-2025. She is also active in the Fairfield County Bar Association, as a chair member of the Bench-Bar committee. She had previously been involved with the New Haven County Bar Association, serving on the Board of Directors of The Foundation, their charitable arm.
Marissa has received the honor of being one of Super Lawyer’s Rising Stars from the years 2014 through 2024. She has moderated various panels for both the Connecticut Bar Association and the Fairfield County Bar Association as well as co-authored the CT Lawyer article, “The Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 on the Family Court Process,” with Attorney Leslie Jennings-Lax. (CT Lawyer Volume 33/Number 2, November-December 2022). Marissa continues to remain active in both the Connecticut Family Law circuit, as well as at a national level.
