personal jurisdiction
Definition
Personal jurisdiction is a court's legal authority to make binding decisions over a specific person or business. A court can only drag you into its proceedings if you have some meaningful connection to that location, like doing business there, being located there, or having caused harm to someone there.
Example
If your small bakery in Ohio gets sued by a customer in California, a California court would need to show a real connection between your bakery and California before it could force you to show up and defend yourself there.
Watch Out
If you sell products online to customers across the country, courts in states where those customers live may be able to claim authority over your business, which means you could get pulled into a lawsuit far from home.
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This definition is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult with a licensed attorney for legal guidance.