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

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.

Find Out More About Financial Disputes

Children

Another benefit of family mediation is its focus on children's needs and interests.

Children often become the innocent victims of family disputes, which can lead to long-term emotional damage. Mediation provides an opportunity for parents to discuss their children's welfare, education, visitation schedules, and other essential matters.

The mediator acts as a neutral third-party who can help facilitate a mutually acceptable arrangement for the children's well-being. Lakes Mediation places a high emphasis on child-centered mediation to ensure that the children's voices are heard and their rights are protected.

Learn More About Child Access

Grandparents

Grandparents play an important role in the lives of their grandchildren. As a result, conflicts that arise between grandparents and their adult children are typically devastating.

Grandparent mediation helps the family members in creating a mutual agreement about how often grandparents will see and communicate with their grandchildren after parental disagreements or divorce.

Lakes Mediation can facilitate dialogue between grandparents or family members to ensure a resolution that is satisfactory for everyone involved.

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

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.

See More About Home Ownership

Child Arrangements Order

Arrangements for School Holidays

One of the primary things that a child arrangement order addresses is how parents will share the responsibilities of raising their child.

This includes deciding who the child will live with, how often they will see the other parent, and how they will share expenses related to the child’s care. Additionally, the order may specify arrangements for school holidays, which can be a contentious issue for separated parents.

When deciding on arrangements for school holidays, the court will take into account the child’s age and needs, as well as the parents’ schedules and availability. For example, if one parent has a more flexible job or schedule, they may be responsible for taking care of the child during school holidays.

Ultimately, the goal of the arrangement is to ensure that both parents have meaningful and consistent relationships with the child, even if they are not living together.

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 a significant day for any child, and it’s essential to make sure they get to spend them with loved ones.

You can include details about how to celebrate the child’s birthdays in your Child Arrangements Order.

You might agree that the child should spend the whole day with one parent or be with one parent for the first part of the day and the other parent for the latter part.

The court recognizes that each child is unique and will consider the child’s wishes, age, and what is reasonable for both parents.

Spousal Maintenance

Spousal maintenance, also known as alimony, is a payment made by one spouse to the other after a divorce or separation. In family mediation, the parties can work together to create a spousal maintenance agreement that addresses the needs of both parties. Some advantages of spousal maintenance mediation include:

The parties can create an agreement that works for both parties.
They can save time and money by avoiding court hearings.
Mediation allows for more flexibility in creating a payment plan.
The parties retain control over the outcome.
Mediation allows for a more amicable resolution, which can be beneficial for co-parenting arrangements.

Why Choose lakes Mediation Over Court?

Why Mediation Is Needed

Family conflicts can arise for many reasons, such as divorce, separation, financial problems, and property disputes. When the dispute escalates beyond a certain point, communication break down, making it difficult for family members to discuss sensitive issues without conflict.

Mediation helps to provide an impartial third party who can help resolve these conflicts.

With a mediator in place, open communication is more likely, allowing all the parties involved to voice their opinions, and work towards a mutually acceptable solution. Here are some benefits of family mediation:

Is It Legally Binding?

Family mediation is not legally binding, but parties can choose to make the agreement legally binding by drafting a Consent Order or signing a contract.

Such arrangements can be binding and enforceable in court.

It’s important to understand that although mediation is not legally binding, parties must comply with agreements reached during mediation. In some cases, parties are legally required to attempt mediation before taking legal action.

What Is
Mediation?

Lakes Mediation is a reputable and efficient mediation service provider. Our mediator, Rachel Lake, is a trained and experienced mediator with a background in law.

Rachel understands the importance of the family dynamics and strives to resolve issues in a timely and appropriate manner. We offer customized and confidential mediation sessions, tailored to meet the specific needs of each party.

Additionally, Lakes Mediation offers a cost-effective alternative to court litigation, and we aim to achieve excellent results for all involved parties.

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

Before embarking on family mediation, it’s essential to understand the process and what it entails. One of the first steps is attending a MIAM. MIAM stands for Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting, which is an initial consultation with a mediator. The purpose of the MIAM is to provide a comprehensive overview of the mediation process, assess the suitability of the case, and determine whether the parties are willing to mediate.

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