LAKES

MEDIATION Hartlepool

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

Lakes Mediation Hartlepool

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

Lakes Mediation Hartlepool

Finances

When it comes to family disputes, money is often at the forefront of people's minds. Financial mediation is a process that helps family members resolve financial matters such as property issues, child support, maintenance and other matters. It can be particularly beneficial for family members who want to avoid costly and time-consuming court proceedings and want to resolve their financial issues in a non-confrontational setting.

One of the key advantages of financial mediation is that it is confidential. This means that all parties involved in the process have the freedom to speak openly and honestly, without their statements being used in a court of law. Additionally, mediation can provide a more child-focused approach to resolving disputes, which can be important in cases where children are involved.

Find Out More About Financial Disputes

Children

Child custody cases are the most important disputes in any family. The process of going to court and having a judge determine your family's future is a scary and emotional process.

As a result, children's mediation is an advisable alternative to trial. In child mediation, the best interests of the child(ren) is considered a keystone to reaching a consensus that is satisfactory to both parents.

The mediator will help the parents create a co-parenting plan and reach a working agreement that is legally binding and includes detailed parenting schedules, school and medical arrangements and a communication plan between the parents. Lakes Mediation has experts in children’s mediation that can help your family discuss and come to a consensus.

Learn More About Child Access

Grandparents

Grandparents play an essential role in the upbringing of children, and it's essential to maintain positive relationships between them and their grandchildren.

Conflicts may arise due to differences in parenting styles, restrictions, and boundaries. Grandparent mediation can help resolve these issues and allow grandparents to continue to be a part of their grandchildren's lives.

The mediator will work to identify what issues are causing the dispute and to compile relevant information before working toward a mutual solution that suits everyone involved.

Explore More on Child Maintenance

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.

Understand More About Pension

HOME OWNERSHIP

In cases where a family dispute involves the division of property, family mediation can offer a more comfortable and peaceful alternative to the court.
One of the most common issues in property disputes is deciding who gets ownership of the family home.
Mediation can help avoid costly litigation, as well as allow for more creative solutions to be reached such as buyout options or splitting of assets.
Mediation also allows parties to preserve their relationships, which may be important especially when children are involved.

See More About Home Ownership

Child Arrangements Order Hartlepool

Arrangements for School Holidays

It is essential to consider school holidays when discussing the Child Arrangements Order.

During school breaks, many parents like to take their children on vacation or spend more time with them. The arrangement for the child’s school holidays should be included in the CAO document to avoid any misunderstandings.

An effective way to allocate school holidays can be alternating the years or dividing them equally.

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 another important occasion that can be difficult to navigate after a separation. With a Child Arrangements Order, the arrangements for birthdays can be made in advance, providing structure and reducing conflict.

When making a decision about birthday arrangements, the court will consider the age of the child, the wishes of the child, and the practicalities of the situation.

It is generally recommended that the arrangements provide for an equal amount of time spent with each parent, where possible, as well as taking into account family traditions and the child’s best interests.

Spousal Maintenance Hartlepool

Spousal maintenance, commonly known as alimony, is often a significant issue in family disputes. During divorce proceedings, the topic can become a long and taxing legal battle that leaves both parties worse off. The adversarial system of litigation often pits spouses against each other, adding stress and animosity to an already difficult situation. Spousal maintenance mediation offers a collaborative and effective alternative. During mediation, a neutral mediator works with the couple to explore different options for spousal maintenance, taking into account factors such as income, earning potential, and quality of life. The process does require mutual trust and openness by both parties for it to work, but if you decide to go through with spousal maintenance mediation, the benefits for both parties are worth it. Some advantages of spousal maintenance mediation are:

You have control over the process and outcome, instead of leaving it in the hands of a judge.
You can save costs associated with lawyers and the formal litigation process.
It can be more flexible in providing a long-term or short-term solution.
It can repair damaged relationships and help with future co-parenting.

Why Choose lakes Mediation Hartlepool Over Court?

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.

Is It Legally Binding?

One common question about family mediation is whether the agreement that is reached is legally binding.

In most cases, the answer is yes. Once an agreement has been reached, it can be made into a legally binding agreement by having it approved by a court.

This will make the agreement enforceable, which means that if one party does not follow through on their side of the agreement, legal action can be taken.

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 Hartlepool

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:

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

MIAMs are information and assessment meetings that are usually the first step in the mediation process. MIAMs are mandatory before a family dispute case can go to court. During a MIAM, the mediator explains the process of mediation, assesses whether mediation is appropriate for the case, and provides information on other options available. This includes the costs, rights, and obligations related to mediation. The MIAM is confidential and only involves the mediator and the parties involved.

SUCCESS STORIES
From Lakes Mediation Hartlepool 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