Utah State Bar

Information may not be reliable

Utah Dispute Resolution (UDR) is a private, 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to providing mediation services and training on conflict resolution to residents in Utah. UDR uses trained, qualified volunteer mediators to provide services.
UDR operates a community mediation center with two offices. UDR's headquarters is located in the Law and Justice Center in Salt Lake City and provides service to Utahns in central and southern parts of the state. A satellite office in Ogden provides service to northern Utah communities.
Utah Dispute Resolution exists to provide mediation and conflict resolution services to low- and middle-income Utahns with financial need. Fees are based on a sliding scale that takes into account income, family size, and/or amount of money in dispute. In many cases, there is no charge for mediation services. See specific program areas to learn more about the UDR fee structure.

Mediation is a voluntary, collaborative approach to resolving disputes using the assistance of an impartial, third party. In mediation, the disputing parties control the outcome by deciding how to resolve the issues at hand. Disputing parties share differing perspectives, voice their needs and interests, and reach greater understanding of each other's views in a safe, supportive environment. Because parties create their own agreement, mediation helps preserve interests and maintain relationships.

Mediation is often faster and less expensive than other methods of resolving disputes.
Mediation allows the parties in dispute to control the outcome.
Mediation occurs in a safe and fair setting.

Utah Dispute Resolution provides services in the following program areas. Click the link to learn more about each program.

Community Mediation - includes disputes between:
neighbors (such as noise, disturbances, animals, and property disagreements); consumers and merchants (such as product and service performance issues, payments, and debts or loans); landlords and tenants (such as security deposits, rent, repairs, damages, evictions); workplace relationships (such as employee grievances, discrimination claims, wage disputes, employee-employee disputes, and employee-manager disputes); business relationships (such as contract issues and partnership issues).

Family Mediation - includes divorce, separation, paternity, divorce modification, parent time and visitation issues, parent-child disputes, friendship and roommate disputes, custody, elder care, and end-of-life decisions.

Training Seminars - includes public workshops to learn mediation and conflict resolution skills; customized workshops designed to meet the specific needs of organizations regarding conflict resolution and communication; and facilitation services.

Youth Programs - includes conflict resolution and peer mediation training for middle-school and high-school students.

Court Programs - includes mediation for small claims filings, small claims appeals, and district court cases involving debt collections.

UDR's mission statement was established in 1996 when the organization attained status as a private, nonprofit corporation.

Utah Dispute Resolution (UDR) exists to provide residents of Utah with quality mediation and conciliation services, including information and training in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as well as means to successfully, informally, and cooperatively resolve their disputes.

As a profession, mediation is still relatively new. People interested in a career as mediator are cautioned to have realistic expectations. There are few employment positions for mediators. Most practitioners who earn a living as mediators have spent years developing their skills, building their reputations, and establishing their businesses. Transitioning into a career as mediator will probably take time.

What are the Utah requirements to practice mediation?Currently, the State of Utah requires no license to practice mediation. The Department of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) does offer an optional license called, ADR Practitioner-Mediator. The Utah State Courts maintains a Roster of Mediators who meet a set of minimum standards. Even though mediators are not legally required to obtain a license to practice in Utah, they are ethically bound to follow the statutes, court rules, and standards that govern this field.
back to top

Toll Free Phone: (877) 697-7175 • Email: info@utahdisputeresolution.org