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Civil procedure

subject matter jurisdiction

Subject matter jurisdiction defines a court’s power to decide a lawsuit involving a particular subject matter, and to render an enforceable judgment. A court generally has jurisdiction when the particular claim raised in the case is within its constitutional jurisdiction—as provided by the state constitution or the U.S. Constitution—or because jurisdiction has been mandated by the state legislature or the United States Congress.

In New York, subject matter jurisdiction refers to a court's legal authority to decide cases of a particular type. The New York State Constitution, federal law, and statutes enacted by the New York State Legislature define the scope of subject matter jurisdiction for different courts within the state. For example, the New York State Supreme Court has general jurisdiction and can hear a wide range of cases, including civil matters, criminal cases, and family law. On the other hand, specialized courts like Family Court, Surrogate's Court, and others have jurisdiction over specific types of matters, such as family-related issues or probate matters, respectively. A court must have subject matter jurisdiction to render a legally binding judgment. If a court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, any decisions or judgments it issues can be challenged and potentially deemed invalid.

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Civil procedure

subject matter jurisdiction

Individual & Family Legal Plan

Articles

New-York State Code

Civil procedure

subject matter jurisdiction

Articles

New-York State Code