LAKES

MEDIATION Array

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

In many family disputes, financial issues are a significant factor, whether it's a divorce or a property settlement. Financial mediation involves a neutral third-party facilitator who helps both parties to identify the issues they have and comes up with options and strategies for a mutually agreeable resolution.

This approach can save time, money, and stress, considering the potential cost of litigation.

The mediator will help the parties to compile a list of assets, debts, and income, providing a clear picture of the financial situation so that parties can effectively negotiate on these key areas.

Children

Child custody cases are the most important disputes in any family. The process of going to court and having a judge determine your family's future is a scary and emotional process.

As a result, children's mediation is an advisable alternative to trial. In child mediation, the best interests of the child(ren) is considered a keystone to reaching a consensus that is satisfactory to both parents.

The mediator will help the parents create a co-parenting plan and reach a working agreement that is legally binding and includes detailed parenting schedules, school and medical arrangements and a communication plan between the parents. Lakes Mediation has experts in children’s mediation that can help your family discuss and come to a consensus.

Grandparents

Sometimes, grandparents can find themselves estranged from their grandchildren, which can cause distress and heartache for both parties.

Family mediation can provide an opportunity for grandparents to reconnect with their grandchildren and rebuild relationships. It's a place to talk openly and honestly about the underlying causes of the conflict and explore practical solutions.

With Lakes Mediation, grandparent mediation can help to create a peaceful and positive solution that restores longstanding relationships.

Pension

Pensions are often one of the most valuable assets a couple owns, and often they are shared between the spouses.
Dividing a pension can be a complicated process, but with mediation, everything becomes more transparent.
Mediation can provide the couple with many options, such as offsetting or outright sharing the pension.

HOME OWNERSHIP

Similarly, when it comes to property disputes, a family mediator can provide a safe and non-judgmental space to navigate this sensitive issue.
Homeownership is often the most valuable asset for families, which can make property disputes complicated and long-lasting.
A mediator can provide an unbiased perspective and guide the conversation towards a common ground or compromise.
The mediator can help evaluate the value of the property, choose a real estate appraiser and even assist in drafting necessary documentation.

Child Arrangements Order

Arrangements for School Holidays

It is essential to consider school holidays when discussing the Child Arrangements Order.

During school breaks, many parents like to take their children on vacation or spend more time with them. The arrangement for the child’s school holidays should be included in the CAO document to avoid any misunderstandings.

An effective way to allocate school holidays can be alternating the years or dividing them equally.

Arrangements for Christmas

Christmas is a magical time of the year, and it’s crucial to make arrangements to ensure that both parents can spend time with their children.

The CAO agreement should consider the holidays and time that each parent will spend with their children.

For instance, one parent could have the child from Christmas Eve to noon on Dec 25th, and the other parent could have the child from noon on Dec 25th to Boxing Day. It’s essential to establish a routine that works for both parents and is also in the child’s best interest.

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 or alimony is another area where mediation can be helpful. Mediation allows both parties to work out an agreement that considers the needs of both. For instance, if one spouse has been a stay-at-home parent, they may need financial support during and after the divorce. Here are some of the benefits of spousal maintenance mediation.

Confidentiality: Mediation allows parties to have a more intimate discussion about spousal maintenance in private.
Control: Both parties have the opportunity to negotiate what they feel is a fair spousal maintenance agreement.
Better outcomes: Both parties are happier with the outcome of mediation since they had a say in the negotiating process.

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?

Lakes Mediation is a family mediation service that provides a safe, neutral space for families to come together and work out their differences.

They have a team of experienced and highly-skilled mediators who are dedicated to helping families find peaceful solutions. Lakes Mediation offers mediation services for a variety of family issues, including divorce, separation, child custody, and more.

They are committed to supporting families throughout the mediation process and ensuring that all parties feel heard and respected.

Benefits of Lakes Mediation

There are times when families face certain challenges and situations that can be difficult to navigate and resolve on their own. This is where family mediation comes in as a valuable solution for many families. In this article, we will discuss the many benefits of family mediation with Lakes Mediation, located in Louth. Family mediation can be a great tool for families to better communicate, negotiate, and work through their differences with each other. Whether it’s separation or divorce, child custody, elder care, or any other family-related dispute, mediation can provide a safe and open platform to address and resolve conflicts in a peaceful and respectful manner.

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

MIAMs, or Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings, are an essential part of the mediation process. The purpose of the MIAMs is to provide the parties involved with an opportunity to speak with a mediator and learn more about the process. It is mandatory for anyone who is looking to file an application with the family court to attend a MIAM. The mediator will provide an overview of the mediation process, the advantages of mediation, and what is expected of the participants. The mediator will also assess whether or not mediation is suitable for the case.

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