An application and motion pursuant to Section 6 of this act must be made in the court of the county in which the agreement to arbitrate specifies the arbitration hearing is to be held or, if the hearing has been held, in the court of the county in which it was held. Otherwise, the motion may be made in the court of any county in which an adverse party resides or has a place of business or, if no adverse party has a residence or place of business in this state, in the court of any county in this state. All subsequent motions must be made in the court hearing the initial motion unless the court otherwise directs.
§ 1878.Location of Arbitration
Chapter 38B: Uniform Arbitration Act · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceSets which Oklahoma county's court hears a motion under the Uniform Arbitration Act, tying venue to where the arbitration hearing is held or, absent that, to where an adverse party resides or has a place of business.
Full Text of § 1878
Amendment History
Added by Laws 2005, SB 873, c. 364, §28, eff. 1/1/2006.
Plain-English Summary
Section 1878 sets venue for motions under Section 1856. If the arbitration agreement specifies the county where the hearing will be held, the motion goes to that county's court -- or, if the hearing has already happened, to the court in the county where it was held.
Otherwise, the motion may be filed in the court of any county where an adverse party resides or has a place of business, or, if no adverse party has a residence or place of business in Oklahoma, in the court of any county in the state. Once a motion is filed, all later motions in the case must go to that same court, unless the court directs otherwise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which county do I file an arbitration motion in if my agreement names a hearing location?
The court of the county where the agreement specifies the hearing is to be held, or, if the hearing already happened, the county where it was held.
What if the arbitration agreement doesn't specify a location?
The motion may be filed in the court of any county where an adverse party resides or has a place of business, or, if none does, in any county in the state.
Once I file the first motion in a county, do later motions have to go there too?
Yes. Section 1878 requires all subsequent motions to be made in the court that heard the initial motion, unless that court directs otherwise.
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: which county to file arbitration motion oklahoma12 O.S. § 1878venue for arbitration proceedings oklahoma