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 most common reasons for family disputes is money. Financial disagreements between family members can often be complicated and emotional, leading to tension and hostility.

Finances can be a source of major stress especially when there are disagreements about who should be responsible for which expenses, or the distribution of assets. Finance mediation can help individuals in a family situation come to an agreement on how to divide assets and handle finances in the future.

A mediator can assist in the negotiation of a settlement agreement that is reasonable and fair to all parties.

Find Out More About Financial Disputes

Children

When it comes to family disputes, it's often the children who are caught in the middle.

Children mediation can help parents or guardians work out a parenting plan that prioritizes the well-being of the children.

Mediators can help families come to agreements on issues such as custody arrangements, visitation schedules, and co-parenting arrangements.

Learn More About Child Access

Grandparents

Grandparents can play a significant role in their grandchild’s life; however, conflict between grandparents and the parents of the children can be challenging.

Grandparent mediation involves working with grandparents and their children to try to find a way to maintain relationships with their grandchildren.

Explore More on Child Maintenance

Pension

Pensions and home ownership can be complicated issues to resolve during family disputes.
However, with the help of a skilled mediator, the family members can work together to reach a mutually acceptable solution.

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

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 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 significant milestones in a child’s life, and both parents should have the opportunity to be a part of them.

When creating a Child Arrangements Order, it’s essential to decide how the child’s birthday will be celebrated.

You could either have a specific arrangement for the birthday or allocate specific times on the day for each parent.

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

Family mediation is needed for many reasons. Firstly, it provides a way for family members to communicate with one another in a safe environment.

Mediation allows all parties to express their feelings and concerns in a respectful manner. Secondly, mediation can help to preserve important relationships. It allows individuals to work together to find solutions that benefit everyone, rather than causing further damage to relationships.

Finally, mediation is often less expensive and less time-consuming than going to court. It is also generally less adversarial, which can make for a smoother and more positive process.

Is It Legally Binding?

One of the most commonly asked questions is whether mediation agreements are legally enforceable.

Yes, they are legally binding as long as the parties enter into them voluntarily. Once an agreement has been reached, Lakes Mediation drafts a memorandum of understanding (MOU,) containing all the key terms.

The parties can then review the MOU with their respective attorneys before finalizing the agreement. The mediator does not represent either party but instead acts neutrally to facilitate the agreement.

What Is
Mediation?

Lakes Mediation is a family mediation service provider based in the UK. They offer a wide range of mediation services, including family mediation for couples, divorce mediation, co-parenting arrangements, and property-related mediation.

Their highly trained mediators are experts in conflict resolution, specializing in family matters.

Lakes Mediation takes a person-centred approach to their services, focusing on the individual needs of each client, and offering tailor-made solutions to meet their requirements.

Benefits of Lakes Mediation

Family conflicts are inevitable, and they can often lead to emotional stress and tension that can damage familial relationships. However, it is important to understand that conflicts are a normal part of life, and they do not have to result in a breakdown of your relationships. This is where family mediation comes in. At Lakes Mediation in Louth, we can help you resolve family conflicts in a safe, neutral, and constructive environment. In this blog post, we will explore how family mediation can benefit you and your loved ones.

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

Often, before beginning a mediation process, all parties must attend a MIAM. A MIAM is an initial meeting where the mediator assesses whether mediation is appropriate for the conflict at hand. This assessment includes whether the parties are prepared for mediation, whether any safety procedures need to be followed, and any other necessary factors.

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