{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "cplr", "section": "503", "citation": "CPLR § 503", "heading": "Venue based on residence", "text": ["§ 503. Venue based on residence. (a) Generally. Except where otherwise prescribed by law, the place of trial shall be in the county in which one of the parties resided when it was commenced; the county in which a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred; or, if none of the parties then resided in the state, in any county designated by the plaintiff. A party resident in more than one county shall be deemed a resident of each such county.", "(b) Executor, administrator, trustee, committee, conservator, general or testamentary guardian, or receiver. An executor, administrator, trustee, committee, conservator, general or testamentary guardian, or receiver shall be deemed a resident of the county of his appointment as well as the county in which he actually resides.", "(c) Corporation. A domestic corporation, or a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the state, shall be deemed a resident of the county in which its principal office is located; except that such a corporation, if a railroad or other common carrier, shall also be deemed a resident of the county where the cause of action arose.", "(d) Unincorporated association, partnership, or individually-owned business. A president or treasurer of an unincorporated association, suing or being sued on behalf of the association, shall be deemed a resident of any county in which the association has its principal office, as well as the county in which he actually resides. A partnership or an individually-owned business shall be deemed a resident of any county in which it has its principal office, as well as the county in which the partner or individual owner suing or being sued actually resides.", "(e) Assignee. In an action for a sum of money only, brought by an assignee other than an assignee for the benefit of creditors or a holder in due course of a negotiable instrument, the assignee's residence shall be deemed the same as that of the original assignor at the time of the original assignment.", "(f) Consumer credit transaction. In an action arising out of a consumer credit transaction where a purchaser, borrower or debtor is a defendant, the place of trial shall be the residence of a defendant, if one resides within the state or the county where such transaction took place, if it is within the state, or, in other cases, as set forth in subdivision (a).", "(g) Student debt. In an action to recover tuition, fees, room and board, educational benefit payments, student loans, or other such charges incurred by a student in furtherance of such student's education owed to the state of New York, the place of trial shall be the residence of a defendant, if one resides within the state, or, in other cases, as set forth in this article."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/503", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "The bread-and-butter rule. Unless another law says otherwise, trial is in **the county where one of the parties resided at commencement**, or **where a substantial part of the events happened**, or — if no party lived in NY — **any county the plaintiff picks**. ★ A party living in **more than one county is a resident of each**.\n\nSpecial residence definitions:\n- **(b) Fiduciaries** (executor, administrator, trustee, committee, conservator, guardian, receiver): resident of **the county of appointment AND where they actually live**. ★\n- **(c) Corporations** (domestic, or foreign authorized to do business): resident of the county of the **principal office**; a **railroad/common carrier** is also a resident of **where the cause of action arose**. ★\n- **(d) Unincorporated associations / partnerships / individually-owned businesses:** resident of the county of the **principal office** plus where the suing/sued officer, partner, or owner actually lives.\n- **(e) Assignee** (in a money-only action, not an assignee for creditors or a holder in due course): takes the **original assignor's residence** at the time of assignment. ★ Stops debt-buyers from shopping for a friendly county.\n- **(f) Consumer credit transaction:** venue is the **defendant's residence** (if in NY), **or where the transaction took place** (if in NY), otherwise fall back to (a). ★\n- **(g) Student debt** (tuition, fees, loans, etc. owed to NY State): venue is the **defendant's residence** if in NY, otherwise per this article.", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/cplr/503", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}