Personal jurisdiction is the authority a court has to make legally enforceable orders related to a person or entity and the property of the person or entity, and usually arises when a person has been sued in a lawsuit. For a court to have personal jurisdiction, the person or entity generally (1) must be a resident of the state in which the court is located; (2) as a nonresident, must have initiated sufficient minimum contacts with the state in which the lawsuit is filed; or (3) must have agreed to be governed by the laws of the state (in a contract or website terms) in which the lawsuit is filed.

In Colorado, personal jurisdiction refers to the power of a Colorado court to make decisions affecting a person or entity and their property. For a Colorado court to exercise personal jurisdiction, certain criteria must be met. Firstly, the individual or entity could be a resident of Colorado. If not a resident, the nonresident must have established 'minimum contacts' with the state, such as conducting business, owning property, or committing a tort within Colorado. These contacts must be substantial enough to justify the court's authority over the nonresident. Lastly, a person or entity may consent to Colorado's jurisdiction by agreeing to it in a contract, including website terms of service, or by appearing in court without contesting jurisdiction. Colorado's rules on personal jurisdiction are consistent with federal due process standards, which require that exercising jurisdiction must not violate traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.