Situs (law)

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In law, the situs (pronounced "sī'təs") (Latin for position or site) of property is where the property is treated as being located for legal purposes. This may be important when determining which laws apply to the property, since the situs of an object determines the lex situs, that is, the law applicable in the jurisdiction where the object is located, which may differ from the lex fori, the law applicable in the jurisdiction where a legal action is brought. For example, real estate in England is subject to English law, real estate in Scotland is subject to Scottish law, and real estate in France is subject to French law.

It can be essential to determine the situs of an object, and the lex situs, because there are substantial differences between the laws in different jurisdictions governing, for example: whether property has been transferred effectively; what taxes apply (such as inheritance tax, estate tax, wealth tax, income tax and capital gains tax); and whether rules of intestacy or forced heirship apply.

The rules for determining situs vary between jurisdictions and can depend on the context, but, under English law, in general:

• the situs of real estate (land) is where the land is located
• the situs of bearer instruments and chattels (tangible moveable property) is where the instrument or chattel is located from time to time
• the situs of registered instruments is where the register is properly held
• the situs of debts is where the debtor resides (since that is where legal action can be taken to enforce the debt)
• the situs of intangibles property, including intellectual property such as copyright, trademarks and patents but also goodwill, is where the property is registered, or, if not registered, where the rights to the property can be enforced
• within territorial waters, the situs of a ship is where it is actually located; on the high seas, a ship is treated as situated at its port of registry
• the state, territory, or country where a Company or Corporation has filed its Articles of Incorporation becomes the place where the company is "sitused"

[edit] References

• Halsbury's Laws, Conflict of Laws, para. pp. 385-391