When people have disputes that are not being resolved, within a family or elsewhere, they may need help to reach a satisfactory solution. If they are willing to deal directly with one another they might find that mediation is an effective and less costly alternative to negotiating through lawyers or litigating in court.
For example, when a couple separates and plans to divorce, they need to create a parenting plan, work out child and perhaps spousal support and decide how to divide their assets and debts. Using a mediator to work out those details can be a quicker, less expensive way to proceed before getting independent legal advice.