- Confidential
- Impartial
- Local
- Cost Effect Services
- Fast appointments
- Experienced
- High Success Rate
Lakes Mediation. If you are in the North West and looking for help around plans for children or divorce.
Call our team on 01539 644 002
Separation and divorce are challenging, but for families in Stockport, Cheadle, Hazel Grove, Marple, and across the borough of Greater Manchester, Family Mediation offers a constructive, cost-effective, and less stressful route to resolve disagreements. Instead of the stress of court battles, mediation empowers you and your former partner to make your own sustainable decisions about your family’s future.
Legal Aid is available for eligible families in Manchester, covering MIAM appointments and mediation sessions. We also guide families through the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, contributing toward mediation costs for child-focused cases.
The mediation process in Manchester starts with a MIAM, followed by joint sessions with trained mediators, and concludes with agreements documented for legal use. By resolving disputes outside court, families save time, reduce stress, and maintain better relationships for the future.
Family mediation is a voluntary, confidential process where an impartial, professionally trained mediator helps separating couples negotiate and agree on practical issues without resorting to the Family Court.
It is suitable for a range of family matters, including:
Child Arrangements: Deciding where children will live and how much time they will spend with each parent (often resulting in a Parenting Plan).
Financial & Property Matters: Sorting out the division of assets, property, pensions, and liabilities following a divorce or separation.
Child Maintenance: Determining appropriate levels of financial support for the children.
Choosing an accredited mediation service like Lakes Mediation offers distinct advantages over resorting to the Family Court system:
Child-Centred Focus: Our mediators are trained to help parents put their children first, focusing on creating arrangements that genuinely work for the child’s well-being, rather than being driven by legal confrontation.
You Stay in Control: A Judge will make the final decision in court. In mediation, you and your ex-partner maintain control over the outcome, leading to more sustainable and mutually respected agreements.
Significant Cost & Time Savings: Mediation typically concludes in a few weeks or months and costs substantially less than the fees associated with contested court proceedings and lengthy solicitor involvement.
Flexible Local & Online Access: We offer appointments across the Stockport area, alongside the convenience of secure online (Zoom) mediation sessions, which can save time and travel across Greater Manchester.
Stockport is a dynamic area in Greater Manchester, encompassing the historic town centre and several distinct, key settlements. The town is famous for its Stockport Viaduct
The borough extends to diverse areas: to the southwest lie the affluent, residential towns of Bramhall (home to the historic Bramall Hall), Cheadle, and Gatley. To the east, bordering the Peak District, are the scenic towns of Marple and Romiley, known for outdoor recreation and the Marple Lock Flight on the Peak Forest Canal. Closer to Manchester are the popular, leafy suburbs known collectively as The Heatons.
Before you can apply to the Family Court for a Child Arrangements Order or a Financial Order, the law requires you to consider mediation first by attending a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM).
This is a meeting with a mediator to explain the mediation process and assess if it is right for you. The mediator will assess whether any exceptions (such as proven domestic abuse) apply, which may exempt you from attending mediation. If mediation is not suitable or the other party refuses to attend, the mediator will sign the necessary court form (C100 or Form A) to allow your court application to proceed.
Making Mediation Affordable: Legal Aid and the £500 Voucher
Cost should not prevent you from finding a positive resolution. Families in Stockport have access to two key financial support schemes:
Legal Aid for Family Mediation – Legal Aid is available to cover the entire cost of mediation if you are on a low income or receive certain qualifying benefits.
The Government’s £500 Mediation Voucher Scheme This is a government initiative to help families resolve disputes relating to children outside of court. It offers a one-off contribution of up to £500 towards your joint mediation sessions. The case must concern a dispute about child arrangements, or a financial dispute where there are also child-related issues. This scheme is not means-tested which means it is available to all.
Note: The voucher cannot be used to pay for the initial MIAM but is applied by the mediator to the subsequent joint sessions.
It is possible to qualify for both Legal Aid (which covers the full cost) and the £500 voucher (which provides a non-means tested contribution).
We offer mediation hubs around the North West. Family Mediation, Legal Aid Mediation.
Strictly by Appointment Only. Location is not staffed.
Mediation and urgent MIAM appointments can be arranged online
Our Stockport Hub – Find us at
48 Middle Hillgate, Cheshire, Stockport SK1 3DL
Call our team to book your mediation on 01539 644 002.
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