What does personal jurisdiction depend upon?

Personal jurisdiction primarily depends on a defendant's residency. This is grounded in the principle that individuals and entities are subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are located. When a defendant resides in a particular state, that state generally has the authority to bring a lawsuit against them, as they have established a connection to that location, either through their domicile or through business operations.

While other factors such as the nature of the claims or the location where an action occurred can influence jurisdiction, the defendant's residency is a fundamental aspect that establishes the baseline for personal jurisdiction. If a defendant is a resident of the state where the lawsuit is filed, it is more straightforward for the court to assert jurisdiction over them.

In contrast, the other options, while they may have relevance, do not form the core basis of personal jurisdiction in the same way that residency does. For example, while federal civil procedure sets certain standards, it does not determine personal jurisdiction without considering state-specific laws and the residency of the defendant. Similarly, the nature of the claims and the location of the action come into play when considering jurisdiction but are secondary to the fundamental requirement of the defendant's residency.