How to Request an ODR Exemption in Utah Small Claims Court

When You Qualify for an ODR Exemption

Utah's Online Dispute Resolution system works well for many defendants, but it is not accessible to everyone. Standing Order No. 13 says the court must grant an exemption when a party shows undue hardship — inability to access the online system or participate in the online process without substantial difficulty or expense. Examples that may support a request include:

The grounds recognized by Utah courts include:

• Disability that prevents you from using a computer or digital interface effectively
• Lack of internet access — no home broadband, no reliable mobile data, no access to a public library or community computer
• Language or literacy barriers that make navigating an English-language web portal impractical

The process is not automatic. File a request and wait for the court to grant it.

How to File the Exemption Request

The form you need is the Request to be Excused from Online Dispute Resolution and Order on Request — Form 3006SC, available on utcourts.gov.

Complete the request section of the form and explain your specific circumstance. Be concrete: "I do not have home internet and live 40 miles from the nearest public library" is stronger than "I prefer not to use the portal." The form includes an order section for the court to complete.

File the form with the Justice Court handling your case, using that court's current filing instructions.

Critical timing detail: Under Standing Order No. 13, you have 14 days after service to register for ODR or request an exemption. If the court denies your exemption request, register within 7 days after receiving the denial or within the time remaining under the original 14-day period, whichever is longer. Filing the request is not itself an order excusing you; the court must grant it.

File the exemption request promptly and track the court's decision. If it is granted, the court will schedule a trial under the small-claims rules. If it is denied, meet the registration deadline above.

What Happens After an Exemption Is Granted

If the judge approves your request, the court will schedule a trial and notify the parties of the date, time, and place. From that point, the case follows the small-claims rules — you appear at the hearing, present your evidence, and the judge decides.

You still retain all of your defendant rights: you can file a counterclaim, request a continuance for good cause, or exercise jury removal to District Court under Rule 4A (the 15-day removal deadline runs from original service, not from the exemption grant — check whether this window has already passed).

Disability Accommodations Beyond ODR

Utah courts provide ADA accommodations for people with disabilities regardless of whether the case is on the ODR track. If you need a sign language interpreter, wheelchair-accessible courtroom, hearing assistance device, or other accommodation for your trial, contact the court's ADA coordinator. The Self-Help Center (888-683-0009) can help you identify the right person at your specific court.

Reasonable accommodations for a disability are free. Contact court staff as far in advance as possible to ask for an accommodation; depending on what you need, the court may require a written request or a motion.

When Free Legal Help Is the Better Path

If your barriers to participating go beyond the digital format — for example, you do not speak English fluently, you have a cognitive disability, or the claim against you involves a complex legal situation — consider contacting Utah Legal Services (801-328-8891) for free legal assistance. They serve low-income Utahns and can help navigate both the exemption process and the underlying case.

For a step-by-step overview of the full defendant process — including both the ODR and traditional court tracks — see the Responding to a Small Claims Case in Utah guide.

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