Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301 (2026)

Persons.

✓ current as of May 2026

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CHAPTER 53

BASES OF JURISDICTION AND INTERSTATE

AND INTERNATIONAL PROCEDURE

Subchapter

A. General Provisions

B. Interstate and International Procedure

B.1. Foreign Depositions and Subpoenas

C. Child Custody Jurisdiction (Repealed)

Enactment. Chapter 53 was added July 9, 1976, P.L.586, No.142, effective 60 days from the date of final enactment of the act of April 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53.

Cross References. Chapter 53 is referred to in section 1579 of Title 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated Associations).

SUBCHAPTER A

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec.

5301. Persons.

5302. Land.

5303. Chattels.

5304. Documents.

5305. Corporate shares.

5306. Obligations.

5307. Status.

5308. Necessary minimum contacts.

§ 5301. Persons.

(a) General rule.--The existence of any of the following relationships between a person and this Commonwealth shall constitute a sufficient basis of jurisdiction to enable the tribunals of this Commonwealth to exercise general personal jurisdiction over such person, or his personal representative in the case of an individual, and to enable such tribunals to render personal orders against such person or representative:

(1) Individuals.--

(i) Presence in this Commonwealth at the time when process is served.

(ii) Domicile in this Commonwealth at the time when process is served.

(iii) Consent, to the extent authorized by the consent.

(2) Corporations.--

(i) Incorporation under or qualification as a foreign corporation under the laws of this Commonwealth.

(ii) Consent, to the extent authorized by the consent.

(iii) The carrying on of a continuous and systematic part of its general business within this Commonwealth.

(3) Partnerships, limited partnerships, partnership associations, professional associations, unincorporated associations and similar entities.--

(i) Formation under or qualification as a foreign entity under the laws of this Commonwealth.

(ii) Consent, to the extent authorized by the consent.

(iii) The carrying on of a continuous and systematic part of its general business within this Commonwealth.

(b) Scope of jurisdiction.--When jurisdiction over a person is based upon this section any cause of action may be asserted against him, whether or not arising from acts enumerated in this section. Discontinuance of the acts enumerated in subsection (a)(2)(i) and (iii) and (3)(i) and (iii) shall not affect jurisdiction with respect to any act, transaction or omission occurring during the period such status existed.

(Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days; July 10, 1981, P.L.237, No.77, eff. 60 days)

Cross References. Section 5301 is referred to in section 5322 of this title; section 2576 of Title 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated Associations); section 1502 of Title 17 (Credit Unions).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 162 cases (53 in the last 5 years), 1977–2026 · leading case: Mallory v. Norfolk S. R. Co, 600 U.S. 122 (2023).

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Mallory v. Norfolk S. R. Co, 600 U.S. 122 (2023). · cites it 8× “42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301 (a)(2)(i), (b).”

Fulano, J. v. Fanjul Corp., 236 A.3d 1 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020). · cites it 6× “- 27 - J-A10040-20 Besides citing no case law in support of its claim, Plaintiffs are asking us to ignore that the Pesticide Control Act contains no provisions notifying registrants that they will be subjected to general personal jurisdiction in Pennsylvania under 42 Pa.C.S. §…”

Ent. Rent-A-Car Wage & Hour Emp. Practices Lit., 735 F. Supp. 2d 277 (W.D. Pa. 2010). · cites it 5× “The section relied upon in Bane was 42 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 5301, which provides: (a) General Rule.”

Genuine Parts Co. v. Cepec, 137 A.3d 123 (Del. 2016). · cites it 2× “96 See 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301 (a)(2)(i) (―The existence of any of the following relationships between a person and this Commonwealth shall constitute a sufficient basis of jurisdiction to enable the tribunals of this Commonwealth to exercise general personal jurisdiction over…”

Sinochem Int'l Co. v. Malaysia Int'l Shipping Corp., 549 U.S. 422 (2007). “The court next concluded that it lacked personal jurisdiction over Sinoehem under Pennsylvania’s long-arm statute, 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. §5301 et seq. (2002). Nevertheless, the court conjectured, limited discovery might reveal that Sinochem’s national contacts sufficed to establish…”

Holt Hauling & Warehousing Sys., Inc. v. Aronow Roofing Co., 454 A.2d 1131 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1983). · cites it 6× “" 42 Pa.C.S. § 5301. Since it was the plaintiff corporation which pleaded that the defendant corporation systematically did business in Pennsylvania and was, therefore, properly subjected to suit in Pennsylvania, it was, therefore, the duty of the plaintiff corporation to…”

Jackie L. Sullivan v. A. W. Chesterton, Inc. (In re Asbestos Prods. Liab. Litig. (No. VI)), 384 F. Supp. 3d 532 (E.D. Pa. 2019). · cites it 2× “§ 411(a). If a foreign corporation does business in the state without registering, as a penalty, it "may not maintain an action or proceeding in" the state.”

Murray, K. v. Am. LaFrance,LLC, 234 A.3d 782 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020). · cites it 4× “42 Pa.C.S. § 5301(a) (emphasis added). Although this section did not exist when Federal Signal registered as a foreign corporation, Federal Signal concedes that it renewed its registration subsequent to the June 1978 enactment of 42 Pa.”

Bowers v. NETI Tech., Inc., 690 F. Supp. 349 (E.D. Pa. 1988). · cites it 4× “Under Pennsylvania’s long-arm statute, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5301, et seq., there are two bases by which a non-resident defendant may become subject to the jurisdiction of this court.”

Farber v. Tennant Truck Lines, Inc., 84 F. Supp. 3d 421 (E.D. Pa. 2015). · cites it 2× “” (citing 42 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 5301(a)(1))); accord Decker v.”

Fields v. Ramada Inn, Inc., 816 F. Supp. 1033 (E.D. Pa. 1993). · cites it 4× “This court also noted that Springfield did little business outside the Washington, D.”

Gorton v. Air & Liquid Sys. Corp., 303 F. Supp. 3d 278 (M.D. Penn. 2018). “ess in Pennsylvania, but did not prove that any moving defendant was "at home" in Pennsylvania and should be subject to general jurisdiction there; indeed, any evidence presented by plaintiffs with respect to personal jurisdiction pales in comparison to the evidence of the…”

Show all 162 citing cases →

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(2) — 1 case

Morgan v. Confidential Servs. Inc., 60 Pa. D. & C.4th 139 (2002).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(2)(iii) — 1 case

CES Publ'g Corp. v. Dealerscope, Inc., 544 F. Supp. 656 (E.D. Pa. 1982).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(a) — 11 cases

Lycoming Cnty. v. Pennsylvania Labor Relations Bd., 943 A.2d 333 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2008).

Murray, K. v. Am. LaFrance,LLC, 234 A.3d 782 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020). “42 Pa.C.S. § 5301(a) (emphasis added). Although this section did not exist when Federal Signal registered as a foreign corporation, Federal Signal concedes that it renewed its registration subsequent to the June 1978 enactment of 42 Pa.”

Fields v. Ramada Inn, Inc., 816 F. Supp. 1033 (E.D. Pa. 1993). “This court also noted that Springfield did little business outside the Washington, D.”

Rose v. Granite City Police Dep't, 813 F. Supp. 319 (E.D. Pa. 1993).

Babn Tech. Corp. v. Bruno, 25 F. Supp. 2d 593 (E.D. Pa. 1998).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(a)(1) — 11 cases

Commonwealth v. Arcelay, 190 A.3d 609 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).

Farber v. Tennant Truck Lines, Inc., 84 F. Supp. 3d 421 (E.D. Pa. 2015). “” (citing 42 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 5301(a)(1))); accord Decker v.”

Fields v. Ramada Inn, Inc., 816 F. Supp. 1033 (E.D. Pa. 1993). “This court also noted that Springfield did little business outside the Washington, D.”

Doe v. Hesketh, 15 F. Supp. 3d 586 (E.D. Pa. 2014).

Massachusetts Sch. of Law at Andover, Inc. v. Am. Bar Ass'n, 846 F. Supp. 374 (E.D. Pa. 1994).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(a)(1)(i) — 3 cases

Ileiwat, T. v. Labadi, M., 233 A.3d 853 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020).

Ileiwat, T. v. Labadi, M., 2020 Pa. Super. 132 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020).

Fuhrman v. Mawyer (M.D. Penn. 2023).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(a)(1)(ii) — 3 cases

Gaboury v. Gaboury, 988 A.2d 672 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2009).

Wabote v. Ude (E.D. Pa. 2021).

Sylva v. Ude (E.D. Pa. 2022).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(a)(1)(iii) — 1 case

Gaboury v. Gaboury, 988 A.2d 672 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2009).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(a)(2) — 18 cases

Fulano, J. v. Fanjul Corp., 236 A.3d 1 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020). “- 27 - J-A10040-20 Besides citing no case law in support of its claim, Plaintiffs are asking us to ignore that the Pesticide Control Act contains no provisions notifying registrants that they will be subjected to general personal jurisdiction in Pennsylvania under 42 Pa.C.S. §…”

Chavez v. Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC, 2022 NMSC 006 (N.M. 2021).

Commonwealth Ex Rel. Pappert v. TAP Pharm. Prods., Inc., 868 A.2d 624 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2005).

Holt Hauling & Warehousing Sys., Inc. v. Aronow Roofing Co., 454 A.2d 1131 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1983). “" 42 Pa.C.S. § 5301. Since it was the plaintiff corporation which pleaded that the defendant corporation systematically did business in Pennsylvania and was, therefore, properly subjected to suit in Pennsylvania, it was, therefore, the duty of the plaintiff corporation to…”

Pac. Employers Ins. v. AXA Belgium S.A., 785 F. Supp. 2d 457 (E.D. Pa. 2011).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(a)(2)(i) — 17 cases

Jackie L. Sullivan v. A. W. Chesterton, Inc. (In re Asbestos Prods. Liab. Litig. (No. VI)), 384 F. Supp. 3d 532 (E.D. Pa. 2019). “§ 411(a). If a foreign corporation does business in the state without registering, as a penalty, it "may not maintain an action or proceeding in" the state.”

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. v. Mylan Pharm. Inc., 78 F. Supp. 3d 572 (D. Del. 2015).

Eagle Traffic Control, Inc. v. James Julian, Inc., 933 F. Supp. 1251 (E.D. Pa. 1996).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(a)(2)(ii) — 3 cases

Eagle Traffic Control, Inc. v. James Julian, Inc., 933 F. Supp. 1251 (E.D. Pa. 1996).

Pac. Employers Ins. v. AXA Belgium S.A., 785 F. Supp. 2d 457 (E.D. Pa. 2011).

Commonwealth v. GPSC Yachts, 871 A.2d 891 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2005).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(a)(2)(iii) — 22 cases

Cash Am. Net of Nevada, LLC v. Commonwealth, 978 A.2d 1028 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2009).

Modern Mailers, Inc. v. Johnson & Quin, Inc., 844 F. Supp. 1048 (E.D. Pa. 1994).

Cali v. East Coast Aviation Servs.., Ltd., 178 F. Supp. 2d 276 (E.D.N.Y 2001).

Molnlycke Health Care AB v. Dumex Med. Surgical Prods. Ltd., 64 F. Supp. 2d 448 (E.D. Pa. 1999).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(a)(2)(l) — 1 case

Fuller Co. v. Valley Consol. Indus., Inc., 33 Pa. D. & C.3d 299 (1984).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(a)(3)(iii) — 1 case

Mulligan v. Piczon, 739 A.2d 605 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1999).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(a)(l) — 1 case

Farber v. Tennant Truck Lines, Inc., 84 F. Supp. 3d 421 (E.D. Pa. 2015). “” (citing 42 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 5301(a)(1))); accord Decker v.”

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(a)(l)(ii) — 1 case

McLarin v. McLarin, 504 A.2d 291 (Pa. 1986).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(a)(l)(iii) — 1 case

SKF USA Inc. v. Okkerse, 992 F. Supp. 2d 432 (E.D. Pa. 2014).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(b) — 7 cases

Bowers v. NETI Tech., Inc., 690 F. Supp. 349 (E.D. Pa. 1988). “Under Pennsylvania’s long-arm statute, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5301, et seq., there are two bases by which a non-resident defendant may become subject to the jurisdiction of this court.”

Ent. Rent-A-Car Wage & Hour Emp. Practices Lit., 735 F. Supp. 2d 277 (W.D. Pa. 2010). “The section relied upon in Bane was 42 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 5301, which provides: (a) General Rule.”

Skinner v. Flymo, Inc., 505 A.2d 616 (Pa. 1986).

Atl. Fin. Fed. v. Bruno, 698 F. Supp. 568 (E.D. Pa. 1988).

Kraus v. Alcatel-lucent (E.D. Pa. 2020).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(b)(ii) — 1 case

Ent. Rent-A-Car Wage & Hour Emp. Practices Lit., 735 F. Supp. 2d 277 (W.D. Pa. 2010). “The section relied upon in Bane was 42 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 5301, which provides: (a) General Rule.”

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