LAKES

MEDIATION

Helping couples across the North West resolve conflict around children and financial disputes themselves without the need of courts or solicitors…

Lakes Mediation

There will always be disputes between families but choosing mediation is a better solution for dispute resolution – avoid court contact us today!

Lakes Mediation

Finances

One of the main reasons for family disputes is financial issues. Disagreements over money, property, and asset distribution can quickly escalate and can become distressing for everyone involved.

In Lakes Mediation, we understand the sensitivity of financial disagreements between family members and mediators use their skills to facilitate a constructive and calm discussion. Mediators help families to explore and identify each party's needs, concerns, and priorities. In finance mediation, both parties have the opportunity to explain their proposal, suggest alternatives, and ultimately come to a mutually agreeable solution.

Find Out More About Financial Disputes

Children

When parents decide to separate, the most challenging aspect can be deciding what's best for the children.

Children mediation can provide a safe space to explore the best possible outcome for everyone involved. With the help of a trained mediator, parents can work together to create a co-parenting plan that meets the needs of the children.

The mediator can offer guidance on how to communicate effectively and avoid placing the children in the middle of the conflict.

At Lakes Mediation, their mediators are experts at helping parents focus on the priorities, especially regarding the children, and come to mutual agreements that will benefit all family members.

Learn More About Child Access

Grandparents

Grandparents often have a special relationship with their grandchildren and can become affected when they’re not able to see them.

Through grandparent mediation, grandparents can express their concerns and, in many cases, come to agreements on visitation and communication with their grandchildren.

Grandparent mediation gives grandparents a voice in court and helps to foster a healthy relationship with their grandchildren.

Explore More on Child Maintenance

Pension

One of the most significant assets that are often part of divorce negotiations is the pension.
It's a complicated asset to value and divide, and if not managed correctly, it can result in unfairness or even financial ruin. That is where a family mediator comes in.
A family mediator can discuss the details of your pension and how it is valued, as well as explore options for division.
Through mediation sessions, you and your spouse can work together to reach a mutual agreement on how the pension will be divided.

Understand More About Pension

HOME OWNERSHIP

When it comes to homeownership, family mediation can help parties to explore the different options for dividing a property.
For example, one party can keep the property and, in return, pay out the other party's share in cash or by offsetting the assets.
Family mediation can be beneficial in addressing potential issues, which otherwise can lead to further complications in court proceedings if not resolved timely.

See More About Home Ownership

Child Arrangements Order

Arrangements for School Holidays

When parents have different work schedules or live far apart, agreeing on arrangements for school holidays can be complex.

A Child Arrangements Order can be tailored to specific needs, ensuring that the child’s care and educational needs are taken care of realistically.

The court will consider factors such as the distance between the parents’ homes, the child’s age, and any previous agreements or orders between the parents.

The order can also include any necessary provisions, such as the exchange of documents, pick-up locations, and transportation arrangements for the child.

Arrangements for Christmas

Christmas is an essential time of year, which means it could become a source of conflict between parents.

However, with a Child Arrangements Order, specific arrangements are made in advance, ensuring that the children have quality time with both parents, without any arguments.

For instance, the order might specify the parent who will have access to the child on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. This will contribute significantly to the children’s happiness, as they will not feel forced to choose between their parents.

Arrangements for Birthdays

Birthdays are another important occasion that can be difficult to navigate after a separation. With a Child Arrangements Order, the arrangements for birthdays can be made in advance, providing structure and reducing conflict.

When making a decision about birthday arrangements, the court will consider the age of the child, the wishes of the child, and the practicalities of the situation.

It is generally recommended that the arrangements provide for an equal amount of time spent with each parent, where possible, as well as taking into account family traditions and the child’s best interests.

Spousal Maintenance

Spousal maintenance, also known as alimony or spousal support, is another issue that comes up in divorce or separation. It involves one spouse paying the other a certain amount of money on a regular basis to help support them financially. Determining spousal maintenance can be a contentious issue, but with family mediation, a mediator can help both parties find a solution that works for everyone. Here are some benefits of spousal maintenance mediation:

Saves money: Like finance mediation, spousal maintenance mediation can help reduce expenses by avoiding the need for lawyers and going to court.
Promotes fairness: The mediator can help determine a fair amount of spousal maintenance based on relevant factors such as income, living expenses, and other financial obligations.
Maintains privacy: Mediation is a confidential process, which can protect both parties’ privacy compared to going to court.
Improves communication: Mediation can help uncover underlying issues and misunderstandings between both parties, which can help improve communication and resolve conflicts more effectively.
Increases cooperation: Mediation encourages both parties to work together to find a solution that meets their needs and interests, rather than working against each other in court.

Why Choose lakes Mediation Over Court?

Why Mediation Is Needed

The purpose of family mediation is to provide a neutral, confidential, and safe environment for parties to discuss their issues.

Mediation helps the parties communicate and to better understand each other’s perspectives. Thus, the conflict can be resolved by finding an acceptable solution for everyone involved.

The mediator keeps the discussion constructive and facilitates open communication. Parties are free to express their needs and desires without fear of retaliation or reprisal.

With mediation, parties have more control over the outcome of their case while avoiding the limitations set forth by the court system.

Is It Legally Binding?

Mediation is not legally binding in the same way that a court ruling would be.

However, when an agreement is reached through family mediation, it is legally binding in the sense that it is a “contract” between the parties involved.

Additionally, agreements reached in mediation can be incorporated into a legally binding document, which means that each party is legally obligated to follow the agreement reached during mediation.

What Is
Mediation?

At Lakes Mediation, we offer family mediation services to individuals in the community who wish to resolve disputes without resorting to legal action.

Our team of certified mediators has years of experience in the field, and we pride ourselves on providing a safe, neutral, and specialized area for our clients to find resolution.

Our mediators are trained to facilitate communication between the parties and guide them through the negotiation process, with the goal of finding mutually agreeable solutions that will work for all parties involved.

Benefits of Lakes Mediation

Family conflict can bring unnecessary stress and tension. It is normal for family members to argue and disagree, but when communication breaks down, it can lead to damaging consequences. Disputes within a family can be overwhelming, creating a toxic environment that affects everyone’s mental health. Fortunately, family mediation has become a popular option in recent years. If you’re struggling with family conflict, Lakes Mediation offers you a solution to address communication issues. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of Lakes mediation and why it is the best choice for resolving disputes.

Mediating can help in several ways, including:

providing a less stressful way of dealing with sensitive matters
facilitating communication and helping you sort out future arrangements
making it easier to review and change arrangements as long as both parties agree
and being a faster and cheaper way of resolving disputes.

MIAMS Session

To what end does a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) serve?

The initial consultation with a trained family mediator to discuss whether or not mediation could help you resolve your dispute outside of court is called a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM).

Mediators Role

The mediator’s job is to help you and the other parent talk through your problems, consider possible solutions, evaluate how well they would work inpractise, and ultimately agree on the best course of action.

In shuttle mediation, the disputing parties are separated into separate rooms, and the mediator “shuttles” between them until they strike a compromise.

Confidential

The mediator is obligated to retain in strictest confidence any information shared with them during the mediation process.
Since is it can be or at any if it becomes that one or both aren’t a through it.

It is the mediator’s responsibility to ensure that the interests and perspectives of the children involved are taken into account.

Miams

A MIAM, or Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting, is a meeting that is often required before starting the mediation process. A MIAM is a chance for each party to meet with a qualified mediator who will explain the process of mediation, answer any questions they may have, and assess whether mediation is suitable for their situation.

SUCCESS STORIES
From Lakes Mediation Clients

After our divorce I was seeing less and less of the children. Things were becoming strained and as I work shifts it was stressful. With Lakes help we sorted out an access plan within 2 short sessions thank you!

J. Evans

Lincs

The option of shuttle and online mediation made things possible for us. After years of arguments I was amazed that we reached a financial decision within a 4 sessions. We are now both able to move forward.

B. Smith

Cumbria

When our relationship ended we were unable to come to an agreement on our business we built together. Lakes mediation held a safe and confidential space for us to come to a mutual agreement and avoid the stress and cost of court. Thank you!

V. Frazier

Newcastle