long arm statutes

Legal Definition of long arm statutes

Noun

long arm statutes

1. Plural form of long arm statute.
   
   Each court is bound to a territorial jurisdiction and does not normally have jurisdiction over persons that reside outside of that jurisdiction. For example, a court in Scotland would not normally have jurisdiction over a resident of Ireland. Long-arm statutes are a tool which gives a court jurisdiction over a person even though the person no longer resides in the territory limits of the court.
   
   Example: UIFSA allows a court to have jurisdiction over a non-resident support payor.

See also

• long arm statute
• long arm jurisdiction