Jurisdiction
The authority of a court to hear and decide a case, determined by both the court's power over the subject matter and its power over the parties involved.
What it means
Jurisdiction has two components: subject-matter jurisdiction (a court's power to hear the type of case) and personal jurisdiction (a court's power over the parties). Personal jurisdiction is typically established by the defendant's residence, place of business, or sufficient minimum contacts with the forum state. Contracts often include forum-selection clauses to predetermine where disputes will be heard.
Read more
- International Contracts: Jurisdiction & Governing Law — Learn how to handle governing law, jurisdiction, and dispute resolution in international contracts. A plain-English guide for cross-border deals in the US, UK, EU, Canada, and beyond.