Any district court, by agreement of the parties, may refer any civil case, including any domestic relations case, or any portion thereof for mediation. A referral to mediation may be made at any time while a civil case is pending. The order of referral to mediation shall be entered on a standard form consistent with the form provided in subsection D of Section 5 of this act.
§ 1823.Referral to Mediation
Chapter 38: District Court Mediation Act · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceLets a district court, with the parties' agreement, refer any pending civil or domestic relations case -- or just part of it -- to mediation at any point in the case, using the standard referral order form.
Full Text of § 1823
Amendment History
Added by Laws 1998, SB 1223, c. 321, §3, eff. 11/1/1998.
Plain-English Summary
Section 1823 gives district courts a mediation referral tool. By agreement of the parties, a court may refer any civil case -- including a domestic relations case -- or any portion of it, to mediation. That referral can happen at any time while the case is pending, and the court enters it on the standard form set out in Section 1825(D).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a judge force parties into mediation in Oklahoma?
No -- Section 1823 requires "agreement of the parties" before a case is referred to mediation.
What kinds of cases can be referred to mediation?
Any civil case, including a domestic relations case, or even just part of a case.
When during a lawsuit can it be sent to mediation?
At any time while the civil case is pending.
Is there a standard form for the referral order?
Yes -- the order has to be entered on a form consistent with the one set out in Section 1825(D).
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: can a judge order mediation oklahomareferral to mediation district court oklahoma12 O.S. § 1823