LAKES

MEDIATION Chester-le-Street

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

Lakes Mediation Chester-le-Street

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

lakes mediation

Lakes Mediation Chester-le-Street

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.

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.

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.

Pension

Pensions are often one of the most valuable assets a couple owns, and often they are shared between the spouses.
Dividing a pension can be a complicated process, but with mediation, everything becomes more transparent.
Mediation can provide the couple with many options, such as offsetting or outright sharing the pension.

HOME OWNERSHIP

Another common topic in family mediation is home ownership disputes. When dealing with such issues, parties have the opportunity to make agreements concerning the family home.
They can decide who lives in the property, how the costs are shared, or how and when it's sold. Additionally, couples going through a divorce may be able to reach a settlement whereby one party maintains living in the home with the children while the other party is able to obtain their share in the equity of the property.
Family mediation can also be a chance to talk through, explore and resolve feelings related to the family home, which may help both parties come to a resolution quicker than if the matter was being disputed through the court system.

Child Arrangements Order Chester-le-Street

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 another occasion that can be challenging for parents to navigate after separation.

Many parents want to spend this special day with their child, but it can be difficult to decide on how to split the day or who will have the child on their actual birthday. In some cases, the court may specify that the child spends half the day with one parent and half with the other.

However, it’s worth remembering that the specifics of the arrangements will depend on the unique circumstances of each family. What is most important is that the arrangement is fair, consistent, and in the best interests of the child.

Spousal Maintenance Chester-le-Street

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:

1. The parties can create an agreement that works for both parties.

2. They can save time and money by avoiding court hearings.

3. Mediation allows for more flexibility in creating a payment plan.

4. The parties retain control over the outcome.

5. Mediation allows for a more amicable resolution, which can be beneficial for co-parenting arrangements.

Why Choose lakes Mediation Chester-le-Street Over Court?

children

Why Mediation Is Needed

When disagreements arise within families, it’s not uncommon for people to resort to legal action. However, this approach often leads to hostility and can communicate a lack of willingness to listen or understand, which is not ideal for ongoing co-parenting arrangements or reconciliations.

Family mediation, on the other hand, provides a forum for the parties to communicate and discuss their issues openly and neutrally. A mediator is trained to facilitate communication and ensure a safe space where all parties can speak without fear of escalation.

This helps to ensure that all parties are heard, and all concerns are addressed, which can result in an amicable resolution to the conflict.

mediation

Is It Legally Binding?

Family mediation itself is not legally binding. It is the agreement that is reached through mediation that can be legally binding.

A mediator will encourage the parties to reach an agreement that is acceptable to all. Once an agreement has been reached, it can be written up into a formal legal agreement to be approved by a court.

If a party breaches the formal agreement, then they can be taken to court. It is crucial to note that only written agreements can be legally binding.

mediation

What Is
Mediation?

At Lakes Mediation, we offer family mediation services to individuals in the community who wish to resolve disputes without resorting to legal action.

Our team of certified mediators has years of experience in the field, and we pride ourselves on providing a safe, neutral, and specialized area for our clients to find resolution.

Our mediators are trained to facilitate communication between the parties and guide them through the negotiation process, with the goal of finding mutually agreeable solutions that will work for all parties involved.

Benefits of Lakes Mediation Chester-le-Street

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 Chester-le-Street can help in  several ways, including:

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 Chester-le-Street, 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 Chester-le-Street Clients

child access mediation
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
FPDS trusted
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
parental plan1
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
Handling Household Dispute