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

Lakes Mediation

Finances

Arguments about money can cause severe tension in any family. That's why finance mediation is a crucial aspect of family mediation.

In finance mediation, a neutral mediator guides the parties involved in discussing their finances and coming to agreements in a non-confrontational and non-judgmental environment.

The mediator will help identify the issues, outline options and craft a mutually acceptable agreement.

It can cover anything from a divorce agreement to business disputes or inheritance conflicts. Lakes Mediation team has extensive experience in financial mediation and can help your family reach an agreement that works for each side.

Children

Child custody battles can be some of the most damaging and emotional disputes in a family.

However, through child mediation, parents can come to agreements on time-sharing, child support, and decision-making that prioritizes the best interest of their children.

Child mediation seeks to find a solution that works for both parents, which in turn creates a positive and less stressful environment for the children.

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.

Pension

In family mediation, pension-related concerns are commonly addressed. The mediator can help parties to identify the various types of pensions, their value, and how they should be divided.
The process ensures that both parties have a comprehensive understanding of the pension division process.
Pension sharing can also be discussed in mediation. The mediator can refer parties to a financial advisor to provide further guidance.

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

One of the most significant benefits of a Child Arrangements Order is that it can help parents plan for the children’s school holidays.

The order typically outlines where the child should spend specific holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and summer vacations.

This helps to avoid confusion as both parents will know exactly where the children will be during the holidays.

It also helps children adjust to the separation situation as they can have the assurance of spending significant dates with both parents.

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

A Child Arrangements Order will usually specify the arrangements for the child’s birthday celebration.

If birthdays are shared, then the child might spend the day with one parent, then another day with the other.

Such an arrangement ensures that both parents can make their child’s birthday celebration memorable without arguing about who has the right to celebrate with the child on the actual day.

Spousal Maintenance

Often, when a couple breaks up it becomes necessary to discuss spousal maintenance or alimony. The process is often emotionally charged, but mediation provides a sense of collaboration and understanding. The following are the benefits of spousal maintenance:

  1. Flexibility: Mediation is not a one-size-fits-all solution, so it allows for more flexibility in creating unique solutions to the issue.
  2. Neutral mediator: The mediator is a neutral third-party to facilitate discussion and assist the couple in reaching a solution that is satisfactory to both parties.
  3. Saves time: With mediation, the process can be handled in a few sessions, sometimes even in one session. It takes much longer to resolve matters in court.
  4. Confidentiality: In divorce cases, financial and emotional information can be particularly sensitive. Mediation ensures that matters are kept private and confidential.

Why Choose lakes Mediation Over Court?

children

Why Mediation Is Needed

One of the primary reasons for seeking family mediation is to avoid costly and time-consuming court proceedings.

Family mediation can also help families to reach an agreement while reducing the emotional stress caused by disputes.

In addition, mediation puts control in the hands of the family members involved in the conflict, rather than a judge.

The mediator facilitates discussions and helps parties identify their interests and priorities to create a solution that works for everyone.
mediation

Is It Legally Binding?

One of the most frequently asked questions about mediation is whether the agreements reached are binding.

Mediation agreements are not legally binding in themselves. However, they can be made legally enforceable by entering them into a court order. This means that if one party does not comply with the agreement, they can be held legally responsible. Mediation is a completely voluntary process, so all parties involved must agree on the terms and sign the documentation required.

Lakes Mediation ensures that the legal implications of the agreement are thoroughly discussed before the documents are signed, to ensure parties understand what is involved.

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 conflicts can be difficult to navigate, especially when emotions run high and communication breaks down. When disputes escalate, legal battles often follow. However, there is another way to resolve family conflicts that is much less stressful and costly. Family mediation is a process where a third-party mediator helps two or more parties negotiate and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of family mediation and why you should consider it as an alternative to litigation.

Mediating can help in  several ways, including:

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

child access mediation
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
FPDS trusted
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
parental plan1
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
Handling Household Dispute