Venue is the geographic location (county in state court or district in federal court) where a lawsuit may be filed. Proper venue is usually determined by statute, and upon the filing of a lawsuit, the defendant may seek to transfer (move) the venue to a proper venue if it believes the plaintiff’s choice of venue is not a proper venue.

In Minnesota, the concept of venue refers to the appropriate location within the state's judicial system where a lawsuit can be filed. State statutes, such as Minnesota Statutes Chapter 542, govern the determination of proper venue for state court actions. Generally, venue is proper in the county where any defendant resides when the lawsuit is commenced, where the cause of action took place, or where the property in litigation is located. For corporations, venue is typically proper where the corporation has its principal place of business or where it is incorporated. In federal court cases, venue is determined by federal statutes, such as 28 U.S.C. § 1391, which consider factors like where the defendant resides, where a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred, or where the property that is the subject of the action is situated. If a defendant believes that the plaintiff has chosen an improper venue, they may file a motion to transfer the case to a proper venue. The courts will then consider factors such as convenience to the parties, the interests of justice, and the location of witnesses and evidence to determine whether to grant the motion for transfer.