First, identify where the person or business you are suing (the "defendant") lives, works, or operates; this is the most common basis for jurisdiction. Next, determine if the key events of your dispute—such as a car accident, a broken contract, or a faulty purchase—occurned within the court's geographic area. Then, call the clerk of the court you are considering or visit their website to verify the specific county or district boundaries they cover and confirm that either the defendant's location or the event's location falls within it. Finally, if still unsure, err on the side of caution and file in the defendant's home county to create the strongest possible jurisdictional foundation and avoid immediate dismissal.
