Chapter 37: Dispute Resolution Act · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceStates the Legislature's purpose in creating community dispute resolution programs -- giving citizens a fair, effective, inexpensive, and fast alternative to formal court proceedings -- and gives Sections 1801 through 1806 the short title "Dispute Resolution Act," the chapter's overall name.
Full Text of § 1801
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The Legislature is aware of the fact that many disputes arise between citizens of this state which are of small social or economic magnitude and can be both costly and time consuming if resolved through a formal judicial proceeding. Many times such disputes can be resolved in a fair and equitable manner through less formal proceedings. Such proceedings can also help alleviate the backlog of cases which burden the judicial system in this state. It is therefore the purpose of this act to provide to all citizens of this state convenient access to dispute resolution proceedings which are fair, effective, inexpensive, and expeditious.
Sections 1 through 6 of this act shall be known and may be cited as the "Dispute Resolution Act".
Amendment History
Added by Laws 1983, HB 1136, c. 78, §1, emerg. eff. 7/1/1983.
Plain-English Summary
Section 1801 opens the Dispute Resolution Act with the Legislature's rationale: many disputes between Oklahomans are small in social or economic terms but can be costly and slow to resolve through a formal court case, while less formal proceedings can often settle them without that expense, easing the backlog of cases burdening the courts. The stated purpose is to give every citizen convenient access to dispute resolution that's fair, effective, inexpensive, and expeditious.
The section also names the law: Sections 1801 through 1806 are cited as the "Dispute Resolution Act."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Oklahoma's Dispute Resolution Act?
A law, codified at Sections 1801 through 1806, creating community mediation programs as a faster, cheaper alternative to formal court proceedings.
Why did the Legislature create this law?
To give citizens convenient access to dispute resolution that's fair, effective, inexpensive, and expeditious, and to help ease the backlog of cases in the courts.
Does this mean small disputes have to go through this process?
The text doesn't require it -- it describes the Legislature's purpose in making these proceedings available, not a mandate that every small dispute use them.
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:Oklahoma Dispute Resolution Act purposewhat is the dispute resolution act12 O.S. § 1801