How Utah's Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Works for Small Claims
Short answer: Utah's Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) system, available for small claims cases of $11,000 or less at participating courts, lets both sides negotiate a settlement entirely online — through written chat, with a neutral facilitator — instead of appearing in court. If it works, you never have a trial; if it doesn't, your case proceeds to one.
Who this guide is for
Anyone with a Utah small claims case at a court that offers ODR, trying to understand whether to use it and how it actually works.
Step 1: Check whether your court uses ODR
Not every Utah justice court offers ODR — check with your specific court, since this determines whether the rest of this process even applies to your case.
Step 2: The plaintiff opts in at filing
A plaintiff filing a small claims affidavit and summons chooses whether to opt into ODR at that point. If opting in, the plaintiff generally needs to register for the ODR system within 7 days of filing.
Step 3: The defendant responds
After being served, the defendant generally has 14 days to either register for an ODR account or request an exemption from participating.
Step 4: The facilitated negotiation
Once both sides are registered, ODR provides a private platform where you communicate through written chat, upload supporting documents, and work toward a settlement — with a neutral facilitator helping guide the process. This all happens asynchronously, on your own schedule, rather than in a live session.
Step 5: One of two outcomes
- If you reach a settlement, the necessary paperwork can be filed with the court directly through the ODR platform — neither side needs to appear in court at all.
- If you don't reach a settlement, the case proceeds to a regular trial, just as it would have without ODR.
The $11,000 cap
ODR eligibility is capped at claims of $11,000 or less — a lower threshold than the overall $20,000 small claims jurisdictional limit (see Utah Small Claims Court: How to File). A claim between $11,001 and $20,000 can still be filed in small claims court, just without the ODR option.
How to get an exemption from ODR
If you can't meaningfully participate — because of a disability, lack of internet access, or a language barrier — you can request an exemption and go straight to a regular trial instead.
Why ODR is worth considering
Beyond convenience, ODR lets both sides negotiate without the pressure and formality of a courtroom, on a timeline that fits around work and other obligations — genuinely useful for disputes where both sides are willing to talk but neither wants to spend a day in court over it.
Frequently asked questions
Is ODR mandatory? No — a defendant can request an exemption, and if a court doesn't offer ODR at all, it isn't an option regardless of the parties' preferences.
Does using ODR cost anything extra? ODR itself is generally part of the standard small claims process at participating courts, without an additional fee beyond your normal filing fee — confirm with your specific court.
What if we partially agree through ODR but not on everything? A partial agreement generally isn't the same as a full settlement — if you can't reach agreement on everything, the unresolved case typically proceeds to trial.