LAKES

MEDIATION Blackburn

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

Lakes Mediation Blackburn

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

Lakes Mediation Blackburn

Finances

One of the significant benefits of family mediation is that it can help resolve financial disputes.

This includes matters such as property division, child support, and spousal maintenance. With the assistance of a mediator, parties can openly communicate their concerns and needs, and work together to find a solution that is fair and equitable.

Mediation can also be cost-effective since it avoids the need for lawyers and court appearances. By choosing Lakes Mediation, parties can expect a respectful, transparent, and supportive environment to resolve their financial differences.

Find Out More About Financial Disputes

Children

When parents decide to separate, the most challenging aspect can be deciding what's best for the children.

Children mediation can provide a safe space to explore the best possible outcome for everyone involved. With the help of a trained mediator, parents can work together to create a co-parenting plan that meets the needs of the children.

The mediator can offer guidance on how to communicate effectively and avoid placing the children in the middle of the conflict.

At Lakes Mediation, their mediators are experts at helping parents focus on the priorities, especially regarding the children, and come to mutual agreements that will benefit all family members.

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

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

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.

See More About Home Ownership

Child Arrangements Order Blackburn

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 an essential time of year, which means it could become a source of conflict between parents.

However, with a Child Arrangements Order, specific arrangements are made in advance, ensuring that the children have quality time with both parents, without any arguments.

For instance, the order might specify the parent who will have access to the child on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. This will contribute significantly to the children’s happiness, as they will not feel forced to choose between their 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 Blackburn

Spousal maintenance, also known as alimony or spousal support, is another important issue in divorce or separation. In a spousal maintenance mediation session, parties can discuss and negotiate the amount and duration of the support payments. Here are some tips for a successful spousal maintenance mediation:

Know the law: understand the legal framework and guidelines for spousal maintenance in your jurisdiction
Be reasonable: consider factors such as the parties’ income and expenses, the length of the marriage, and the ability to support oneself
Be flexible: the amount and duration of spousal maintenance can be negotiated and adjusted based on changing circumstances such as job loss or illness
Be respectful: avoid taking a punitive or adversarial approach, and focus on finding a mutually acceptable solution
Be prepared: have all necessary documentation and information ready, such as tax returns, pay stubs, and budget estimates

Why Choose lakes Mediation Blackburn Over Court?

Why Mediation Is Needed

The purpose of family mediation is to provide a neutral, confidential, and safe environment for parties to discuss their issues.

Mediation helps the parties communicate and to better understand each other’s perspectives. Thus, the conflict can be resolved by finding an acceptable solution for everyone involved.

The mediator keeps the discussion constructive and facilitates open communication. Parties are free to express their needs and desires without fear of retaliation or reprisal.

With mediation, parties have more control over the outcome of their case while avoiding the limitations set forth by the court system.

Is It Legally Binding?

One of the most common questions about family mediation is whether it’s legally binding. The answer is no, family mediation is not legally binding by itself. However, if the parties come to an agreement during mediation, they can choose to make it legally binding by signing a consent order. A consent order is a legal document that outlines how the parties have agreed to settle their legal dispute.

This means that family mediation can provide the framework and foundation for a legally binding resolution, but it’s up to the parties to finalize it. The courts will recognize a consent order as a legally binding contract, and will enforce it accordingly.

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 Blackburn

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

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 Blackburn 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