Mediation is required in a contested divorce case.
Mediation typically consists of meeting with a neutral third party. You may check to see if they are on the domestic case roster here.
Mediation often occurs with the parties’ attorneys present unless otherwise agreed. In addition, the standard time (no real reason why) that is set aside for the mediation tends to be a 2-3 hour block. Parties will sometimes engage in multiple rounds of mediation but 1 - good faith effort - is sufficient to satisfy the requirement. Mediation is a good tool because it lets the parties be more creative in their solutions than is typically seen at court. The court does not know your circumstances typically resulting in a more one size fits all resolution. Nevertheless, both mediation and proceeding to court have their advantages.

Since mediation is mandatory in the state of Utah on divorce and custody cases.. The state has two different mediation programs that can be confusing to people. The first mediation program is attached to th Mandatory mediation requirement. Information about that program is found by sellecting the mandatory mediation link below. The second mediation program is the Co-parenting mediation program that started in the Third District and that is designed to address parent-time disputes. If parties in the third district have parent-time disputes before they can take the matter to court the must attend co parenting mediation and information to that is linked below under Co-parenting mediation.

“Another area in which the courts have responded to legislative concerns this past year is divorce mediation. Because of Representative Ferry´s bill, passed in last year´s session, mediation in divorce cases is now mandatory throughout the state. Mediation brings parties together with a skilled professional who assists them in identifying ways they can resolve their own disputes. Not only does this process relieve the courts of the burden of trying their cases, an expensive and painful process, but our questionnaires tell us that the parties feel more satisfied with the results and emerge better prepared to move on with their lives. A recent report to the Judicial Council revealed an encouraging level of success and user satisfaction in the program. Since the mediation program went statewide last May, of the 746 cases mediated, 64 percent were completely resolved by the parties. We are also continuing our efforts to deal responsibly and effectively with people who represent themselves in court, and we are advancing a budget request to operate a pilot program that will further our use of best practices in this area. In a recent court survey, court users reported information on self representation as being the fourth most important service the court offers.”

Excerpt from 2007 STATE OF THE JUDICIARY.
Chief Justice Christine M. Durham January 15, 2007
See full text by clicking the following link: Justice Durham’s speech.