§ 1825.List of Qualified Mediators - Minimum Requirements - Form of Order of Referral

Chapter 38: District Court Mediation Act · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified August 3, 2026

In one sentenceSets minimum training and certification requirements for mediators to join a district court's approved list -- separate tracks for civil/commercial and divorce/family mediators -- while preserving the parties' right to pick a different mediator or ADR process, and prescribes the standard referral order form.

Full Text of § 1825

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A. A district court may maintain a list of qualified mediators to assist the parties in selecting a mediator. In order to be placed on any such list, an individual shall meet the following minimum requirements:

1. Civil and commercial mediators shall:

a. be certified pursuant to the Dispute Resolution Act, or

(1) complete a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours of mediation training, which training has been approved by the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission of the Oklahoma Bar Association,

(2) observe a minimum of two (2) mediation proceedings, and

(3) complete at least six (6) hours every other year of continuing professional education in the area of mediation, which education has been approved by the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission of the Oklahoma Bar Association; and

2. Divorce and Family Mediators shall:

a. be certified for family and divorce mediation pursuant to the Dispute Resolution Act, or

(1) complete forty (40) hours of training in family and divorce mediation, which training has been approved by the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission of the Oklahoma Bar Association,

(2) conduct at least twelve (12) hours of mediation with three (3) separate families, and

(3) complete at least six (6) hours every other year of professional education in the area of family mediation, or

c. have been regularly engaged in the practice of family and divorce mediation for at least four (4) years.

B. Nothing in this act shall preclude the parties from agreeing:

1. To participate in any alternative dispute resolution process, including mediation, independent of this act or any related court order; or

2. To select a mediator not identified on any list of qualified mediators maintained by the district court.

C. Mediators who are not certified pursuant to the Dispute Resolution Act, upon request by the court, any party, or legal counsel, shall provide information demonstrating the mediator's compliance with the requirements of Section 4 of this act, and shall agree to adhere to the Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators approved by the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Sections of the American Bar Association, the American Arbitration Association, and the Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution.

D. The following form shall be used to order mediation pursuant to this act: IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF ____________________COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA

Order of Referral To Mediation

This case is ordered to mediation pursuant to the District Court Mediation Act. Parties and legal counsel shall proceed in good faith to resolve this case. The parties shall select and contact a mediator or mediation program or service within five (5) business days to make appropriate arrangements for the mediation proceeding. Mediation shall be completed within _____ days from the date of this order.

Mediation shall be attended by persons with full settlement authority. Both parties shall participate in mediation; attorneys may participate as agreed by the parties and the mediator. Named parties shall be present except for a named party who has no interest in the outcome and no settlement authority. Each party who is represented by legal counsel shall be accompanied at mediation by an attorney who is fully familiar with the case. In addition, any interested non-party, including any insurance company or other entity that is contractually required to defend or to pay damages, shall be represented by a person with full settlement authority.

End

Amendment History

Added by Laws 1998, SB 1223, c. 321, §5, eff. 11/1/1998.

Plain-English Summary

Section 1825 lets a district court maintain a list of qualified mediators, but only mediators who meet minimum requirements can get on it. Civil and commercial mediators need either Dispute Resolution Act certification, or 24 hours of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission-approved mediation training, observation of at least two mediation proceedings, and six hours of approved continuing education every other year. Divorce and family mediators need Dispute Resolution Act family/divorce certification, or 40 hours of approved training plus at least 12 hours mediating with three separate families and ongoing education every other year -- or, instead, at least four years of regularly practicing family and divorce mediation.

None of this locks the parties in. They can still agree to use any ADR process, including mediation, independent of the act or a court order, or to pick a mediator who isn't on the court's list. A mediator who isn't Dispute Resolution Act-certified must, on request by the court, a party, or counsel, show compliance with Section 1824's requirements and agree to follow the Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators approved by the relevant American Bar Association section, the American Arbitration Association, and the Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution.

The section also sets out the standard "Order of Referral To Mediation" form: the parties select and contact a mediator within five business days, mediation is completed within the specified number of days, and everyone with full settlement authority -- including an insurer or other entity contractually obligated to defend or pay damages -- has to attend.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it take to get on a district court's list of civil mediators?

Either Dispute Resolution Act certification, or 24 hours of approved mediation training, observing two mediation proceedings, and six hours of continuing education every other year.

What about mediators for divorce and family cases?

Family/divorce certification under the Dispute Resolution Act, or 40 hours of approved training plus 12 hours mediating with three separate families and ongoing education -- or at least four years of regularly practicing family and divorce mediation.

Do I have to use a mediator from the court's approved list?

No -- parties can agree to any ADR process independent of a court order, or to a mediator who isn't on the court's list.

How fast do the parties have to pick a mediator once a case is referred?

Within five business days of the referral, according to the standard order form.

Does my insurance company need to send someone to mediation?

If an insurer or other entity is contractually obligated to defend the case or pay damages, it has to be represented by someone with full settlement authority.

Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature. Last verified August 3, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: how to become a certified mediator oklahomadistrict court mediator list requirementsorder of referral to mediation form oklahoma12 O.S. § 1825