Jurisdiction over the person is acquired when the complaint is filed.

• A. It requires service of summons to acquire
• B. It depends on residency of plaintiff
• C. It is achieved only by consent
• D. It is acquired when the complaint is filed

Answer: (D)

Personal jurisdiction over the defendant is not established by filing the complaint alone. Filing brings the action to court and gives the court power over the subject matter, but the defendant must be brought within the court’s power personally. That happens only when the defendant is served with summons (or voluntarily appears in court or waives service). Service of summons provides proper notice and obligates the defendant to respond, enabling the court to bind them personally. Without service or appearance, the court lacks personal jurisdiction, even though the case exists in the court’s file. So the idea that jurisdiction over the person is acquired merely upon filing is not correct; notice to and appearance of the defendant are what establish personal jurisdiction.