What is the primary purpose of a long-arm statute?

The primary purpose of a long-arm statute is to extend a state's jurisdiction to non-residents who have sufficient connections to the state. These statutes allow courts to exert jurisdiction over individuals or entities based outside the state's borders if those individuals or entities engage in specific activities that have a tangible impact in the state. This serves to ensure that individuals or businesses that have purposefully engaged in activities that affect residents or properties in the state can be brought before its courts.

Long-arm statutes are crucial for maintaining fairness in the legal system, ensuring that a defendant cannot evade responsibility simply by residing out of state while conducting business or other activities that affect local residents. Such statutes typically detail the types of connections that justify the exercise of jurisdiction, such as conducting business transactions, committing torts, or entering contracts within the state. By this means, the long-arm statute plays an essential role in expanding the reach of the court system to hold non-residents accountable for their actions connected to the state.