LAKES

MEDIATION Stockton-on-Tees

Helping couples across the North West resolve conflict around children and financial disputes themselves without the need of courts or solicitors…

Lakes Mediation Stockton-on-Tees

There will always be disputes between families but choosing mediation is a better solution for dispute resolution – avoid court contact us today!

Lakes Mediation Stockton-on-Tees

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

Disputes can also arise concerning custody and parenting plans for children.

Parents may not agree on the living arrangements for the child, visitation schedules, and child support payments. A mediator can offer a neutral perspective and assist the parents in establishing a plan that aims to meet the child's best interests.

During this type of mediation, family members will learn to communicate with each other effectively, and understand how crucial it is to put the child's needs first and foremost.

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

Family mediation can be a beneficial process for those dealing with disputes relating to home ownership.
These types of conflicts can be particularly challenging as it involves one's home and usually includes a hefty financial investment.
Family mediation can provide an environment where both parties can openly discuss their concerns and develop practical solutions.
Mediation can address issues related to property ownership, mortgage payments, and the division of assets or liabilities.

See More About Home Ownership

Child Arrangements Order Stockton-on-Tees

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 a special time, especially for children. When parents separate, however, it can turn into a stressful and complicated time, particularly when it comes to making arrangements for the child.

A Child Arrangements Order can specify which parent the child should spend Christmas with and on what dates.

The order can also include provisions for parents to communicate with each other over the Christmas period, allowing the child to speak and spend time with both parents.

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 Stockton-on-Tees

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 Stockton-on-Tees 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 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.

What Is
Mediation?

Lakes Mediation is a professional and empathetic family mediation service provider, located in the UK. Our team of experienced and accredited family mediators is dedicated to helping families resolve their disputes in a constructive and collaborative manner.

We offer a range of mediation services, including divorce and separation, child arrangements, financial matters, and eldercare. We also provide online mediation, to ensure accessibility and convenience for families who may not be able to attend in-person.

Benefits of Lakes Mediation Stockton-on-Tees

Family disputes can be overwhelming, emotionally draining and costly if not handled well. It’s essential to find a peaceful and satisfactory solution for everyone involved to move forward, and that’s where family mediation comes to play. At Lakes Mediation, we understand family conflicts can arise for various reasons, such as divorce, separation, or inheritance issues. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of family mediation and how it can help resolve disputes in a collaborative and respectful way.

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 Stockton-on-Tees 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