Section 1 Common Provisions
第一節 通則
第一条（趣旨）
This Act establishes the special provisions and other measures referred to in the Code of Civil Procedure (Act No. 109 of 1996) for personal status litigation proceedings.
この法律は、人事訴訟に関する手続について、民事訴訟法（平成八年法律第百九号）の特例等を定めるものとする。
第二条（定義）
The term "personal status litigation" as used in this Act means litigation related to any of the following actions or to any other action through which a person seeks a change in the status of a familial relationship or a declaratory judgment as to whether a familial relationship exists (referred to below as a "personal status action"):
この法律において「人事訴訟」とは、次に掲げる訴えその他の身分関係の形成又は存否の確認を目的とする訴え（以下「人事に関する訴え」という。）に係る訴訟をいう。
an action to nullify or rescind a marriage, action for divorce, action to nullify or rescind a divorce by agreement, or action seeking a declaratory judgment as to whether a marital relationship exists;
婚姻の無効及び取消しの訴え、離婚の訴え、協議上の離婚の無効及び取消しの訴え並びに婚姻関係の存否の確認の訴え
an action to rebut the presumption of legitimacy, action for filiation, action to nullify or rescind an acknowledgment of parentage, action to establish paternity pursuant to the provisions of Article 773 of the Civil Code (Act No. 89 of 1896), or action seeking a declaratory judgment as to whether a biological parent and child relationship exists; and
嫡出否認の訴え、認知の訴え、認知の無効及び取消しの訴え、民法（明治二十九年法律第八十九号）第七百七十三条の規定により父を定めることを目的とする訴え並びに実親子関係の存否の確認の訴え
an action to nullify or rescind an adoption, action to dissolve an adoptive relationship, action to nullify or rescind the dissolution of an adoptive relationship by agreement, or action seeking a declaratory judgment as to whether an adoptive parent and child relationship exists.
養子縁組の無効及び取消しの訴え、離縁の訴え、協議上の離縁の無効及び取消しの訴え並びに養親子関係の存否の確認の訴え
Article 3Rules of the Supreme Court
第三条（最高裁判所規則）
Beyond what is prescribed in this Act, the Rules of the Supreme Court provide for the necessary particulars relevant to personal status litigation proceedings.
この法律に定めるもののほか、人事訴訟に関する手続に関し必要な事項は、最高裁判所規則で定める。
Section 2 The Courts
第二節 裁判所
Subsection 1 Jurisdiction of the Japanese Courts
第一款 日本の裁判所の管轄権
Article 3-2Jurisdiction over Personal Status Actions
第三条の二（人事に関する訴えの管轄権）
A personal status action may be filed with a Japanese court if it falls under any of the following items:
人事に関する訴えは、次の各号のいずれかに該当するときは、日本の裁判所に提起することができる。
if the action is being filed against one party to a familial relationship and that party is domiciled in Japan (or resides in Japan, if the party has no domicile or the party's domicile is unknown);
身分関係の当事者の一方に対する訴えであって、当該当事者の住所（住所がない場合又は住所が知れない場合には、居所）が日本国内にあるとき。
if the action is being filed against both parties to a familial relationship and either party or both parties are domiciled in Japan (or reside in Japan, if they have no domicile or their domiciles are unknown);
身分関係の当事者の双方に対する訴えであって、その一方又は双方の住所（住所がない場合又は住所が知れない場合には、居所）が日本国内にあるとき。
if the action is being filed by one party to a familial relationship and the other party was domiciled in Japan at the time of their death;
身分関係の当事者の一方からの訴えであって、他の一方がその死亡の時に日本国内に住所を有していたとき。
if both parties to a familial relationship have died and either party or both parties were domiciled in Japan at the time of their deaths;
身分関係の当事者の双方が死亡し、その一方又は双方がその死亡の時に日本国内に住所を有していたとき。
if both parties to a familial relationship are Japanese nationals (including if either or both were Japanese nationals at the time of their death);
身分関係の当事者の双方が日本の国籍を有するとき（その一方又は双方がその死亡の時に日本の国籍を有していたときを含む。）。
if the action is being filed by one party to a familial relationship who is domiciled in Japan, and the parties to the familial relationship were last domiciled together in Japan; or
日本国内に住所がある身分関係の当事者の一方からの訴えであって、当該身分関係の当事者が最後の共通の住所を日本国内に有していたとき。
if the action is being filed by one party to a familial relationship who is domiciled in Japan and there are found to be special circumstances because of which conducting a trial and reaching a judicial decision in a Japanese court will help achieve equity between the parties or hold a fair and speedy trial, such as if the other party is missing or if the final and binding judicial decision on an action concerning the same familial relationship that was filed in the country where the other party is domiciled is not effective in Japan.
日本国内に住所がある身分関係の当事者の一方からの訴えであって、他の一方が行方不明であるとき、他の一方の住所がある国においてされた当該訴えに係る身分関係と同一の身分関係についての訴えに係る確定した判決が日本国で効力を有しないときその他の日本の裁判所が審理及び裁判をすることが当事者間の衡平を図り、又は適正かつ迅速な審理の実現を確保することとなる特別の事情があると認められるとき。
Article 3-3Jurisdiction Due to Joinder of Related Claims
第三条の三（関連請求の併合による管轄権）
If a single action involves a claim related to personal status litigation and a claim for damages arising from the facts that constitute a cause of action associated with the claim (limited to the claim from one of the parties to the other party of the personal status litigation), the action may be filed with a Japanese court, but only if the Japanese courts have jurisdiction over the claim related to that personal status litigation.
一の訴えで人事訴訟に係る請求と当該請求の原因である事実によって生じた損害の賠償に関する請求（当該人事訴訟における当事者の一方から他の一方に対するものに限る。）とをする場合においては、日本の裁判所が当該人事訴訟に係る請求について管轄権を有するときに限り、日本の裁判所にその訴えを提起することができる。
第三条の四（子の監護に関する処分についての裁判に係る事件等の管轄権）
If a Japanese court has jurisdiction over an action to rescind a marriage or an action for divorce, it has jurisdiction over the case that involves the judicial decision referred to in Article 32, paragraph (1) to designate the custodial parent and settle other matters related to child custody and over the case that involves the judicial decision referred to in that paragraph to designate the person exercising parental authority alone, and it has jurisdiction over the case that involves the judicial decision referred to in paragraph (3) of that Article to designate the person with parental authority.
Changes on a date not yet set (Act No. 46 of 2026)
If a Japanese court has jurisdiction over an action to rescind a marriage or an action for divorce, it has jurisdiction over the case that involves the judicial decision to settle matters related to the distribution of property under Article 32, paragraph (1), if that case falls under any of the items of Article 3-12 of the Domestic Relations Case Procedure Act (Act No. 52 of 2011).
裁判所は、日本の裁判所が婚姻の取消し又は離婚の訴えについて管轄権を有する場合において、家事事件手続法（平成二十三年法律第五十二号）第三条の十二各号のいずれかに該当するときは、第三十二条第一項の財産の分与に関する処分についての裁判に係る事件について、管轄権を有する。
Article 3-5Dismissal Without Prejudice Due to Special Circumstances
第三条の五（特別の事情による訴えの却下）
Even when the Japanese courts have jurisdiction over an action, the court may deny all or part of the action if it finds there are special circumstances because of which, if the Japanese courts were to conduct a trial and reach a judicial decision, it would be inequitable to either party or prevent a fair and speedy trial, in consideration of circumstances such as the nature of the case, the degree of burden that the defendant would have to bear in responding to the action, the location of evidence, or the interests of any children of the parties to the familial relationship that the action concerns who have not yet attained the age of majority.
裁判所は、訴えについて日本の裁判所が管轄権を有することとなる場合においても、事案の性質、応訴による被告の負担の程度、証拠の所在地、当該訴えに係る身分関係の当事者間の成年に達しない子の利益その他の事情を考慮して、日本の裁判所が審理及び裁判をすることが当事者間の衡平を害し、又は適正かつ迅速な審理の実現を妨げることとなる特別の事情があると認めるときは、その訴えの全部又は一部を却下することができる。
Subsection 2 Jurisdiction
第二款 管轄
Article 4Jurisdiction Over Personal Status Actions
第四条（人事に関する訴えの管轄）
A personal status action falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the family court covering the place that constitutes the general venue for the party to the familial relationship that the action concerns, or the place that constituted the general venue for that party at the time of their death.
人事に関する訴えは、当該訴えに係る身分関係の当事者が普通裁判籍を有する地又はその死亡の時にこれを有した地を管轄する家庭裁判所の管轄に専属する。
If the court of jurisdiction cannot be determined under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the personal status action falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the family court that has jurisdiction over the place specified by the Rules of the Supreme Court.
Article 5Jurisdiction over a Joint Claim
第五条（併合請求における管轄）
Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding Article, if multiple claims by or against multiple persons seeking changes in the status of multiple familial relationships or a declaratory judgment as to whether multiple familial relationships exist are filed in a single personal status action, the action may be filed with a family court that has jurisdiction over one of those claims pursuant to the provisions of the preceding Article provided, however, that this is limited to the cases specified in the first sentence of Article 38 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
数人からの又は数人に対する一の人事に関する訴えで数個の身分関係の形成又は存否の確認を目的とする数個の請求をする場合には、前条の規定にかかわらず、同条の規定により一の請求について管轄権を有する家庭裁判所にその訴えを提起することができる。ただし、民事訴訟法第三十八条前段に定める場合に限る。
第六条（調停事件が係属していた家庭裁判所の自庁処理）
Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 16, paragraph (1) of the Code of Civil Procedure, even if a family court finds that all or part of personal status litigation is not under its jurisdiction, the court may itself conduct proceedings and make judicial decisions for all or part of that personal status litigation upon petition or sua sponte, if a case under conciliation that was petitioned for in connection with the relevant personal status litigation case pursuant to the provisions of Article 257, paragraph (1) of the Domestic Relations Case Procedure Act was pending before that court, and if the court finds it particularly necessary to do so in light of the progress of the conciliation, the opinions of the parties, and any other circumstances.
家庭裁判所は、人事訴訟の全部又は一部がその管轄に属しないと認める場合においても、当該人事訴訟に係る事件について家事事件手続法第二百五十七条第一項の規定により申し立てられた調停に係る事件がその家庭裁判所に係属していたときであって、調停の経過、当事者の意見その他の事情を考慮して特に必要があると認めるときは、民事訴訟法第十六条第一項の規定にかかわらず、申立てにより又は職権で、当該人事訴訟の全部又は一部について自ら審理及び裁判をすることができる。
Article 7Transfer to Avoid Delay
第七条（遅滞を避ける等のための移送）
Even if personal status litigation is under the jurisdiction of a family court, the court may transfer all or part of that litigation to another court with jurisdiction upon petition or sua sponte if it finds this to be necessary in order to avoid a substantial delay in litigation or in order to help achieve equity between the parties, in light of the addresses of the parties and the witnesses to be examined, and any other circumstances.
家庭裁判所は、人事訴訟がその管轄に属する場合においても、当事者及び尋問を受けるべき証人の住所その他の事情を考慮して、訴訟の著しい遅滞を避け、又は当事者間の衡平を図るため必要があると認めるときは、申立てにより又は職権で、当該人事訴訟の全部又は一部を他の管轄裁判所に移送することができる。
Article 8Transfer of Litigation Involving Related Claims
第八条（関連請求に係る訴訟の移送）
Upon petition, a court of first instance before which there is pending litigation involving a claim for damages arising from facts that constitute a cause of action relating to personal status litigation that is pending in a family court may transfer the litigation involving the claim for damages to the family court, if it finds this to be reasonable. In this case, the family court to which the litigation is transferred may conduct its own trial and reach a judicial decision itself for the litigation involving the claim for damages.
家庭裁判所に係属する人事訴訟に係る請求の原因である事実によって生じた損害の賠償に関する請求に係る訴訟の係属する第一審裁判所は、相当と認めるときは、申立てにより、当該訴訟をその家庭裁判所に移送することができる。この場合においては、その移送を受けた家庭裁判所は、当該損害の賠償に関する請求に係る訴訟について自ら審理及び裁判をすることができる。
A family court to which litigation involving a claim for damages is transferred pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must order the consolidation of oral arguments for the personal status litigation case that is referred to in that paragraph and the transferred case.
Subsection 3 Court Advisors
第三款 参与員
第九条（参与員）
If a family court finds it necessary, it may have a court advisor attend a trial or be present for an attempt to arrange a settlement, and hear their opinions on the case.
家庭裁判所は、必要があると認めるときは、参与員を審理又は和解の試みに立ち会わせて事件につきその意見を聴くことができる。
There is to be at least one court advisor for each case.
参与員の員数は、各事件について一人以上とする。
A court advisor is designated by the family court for each case from among persons appointed in advance by the family court every year.
参与員は、毎年あらかじめ家庭裁判所の選任した者の中から、事件ごとに家庭裁判所が指定する。
The Rules of the Supreme Court prescribe the qualifications and number of persons to be appointed pursuant to the preceding paragraph and other necessary matters relevant to appointing them as referred to in that paragraph.
A court advisor is paid travel expenses, a daily allowance, and lodging fees in the amounts specified by the Rules of the Supreme Court.
参与員には、最高裁判所規則で定める額の旅費、日当及び宿泊料を支給する。
When a family court has a court advisor attend a trial or attempt to arrange a settlement pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), if the court finds it appropriate, the family court may, after hearing the opinions of both parties, have the court advisor attend the trial or attempt to arrange a settlement and take action on the relevant date, as provided by the Rules of the Supreme Court, by a method that enables the family court and both parties to simultaneously communicate with the court advisor through audio transmission.
家庭裁判所は、第一項の規定により参与員を審理又は和解の試みに立ち会わせる場合において、相当と認めるときは、当事者の意見を聴いて、最高裁判所規則で定めるところにより、家庭裁判所及び当事者双方が参与員との間で音声の送受信により同時に通話をすることができる方法によって、参与員に審理又は和解の試みに立ち会わせ、当該期日における行為をさせることができる。
personal status action
「人事に関する訴え」
An action through which a person seeks to form a personal status relationship (身分関係) or a declaration whether one exists, such as an action to nullify or rescind a marriage, an action for divorce, an action to rebut the presumption of legitimacy, an action for filiation, an action to dissolve an adoptive relationship, or an action to confirm whether a marital, parent-child or adoptive relationship exists.
Short name set inArticle 2, paragraph (1)
personal status litigation
「人事訴訟」
Litigation on a personal status action (人事に関する訴え): an action through which a person seeks to form a personal status relationship (身分関係) or a declaration whether one exists, such as an action to nullify or rescind a marriage, an action for divorce, an action to rebut the presumption of legitimacy, an action for filiation, an action to nullify or rescind an adoption, or an action to confirm whether a marital, parent-child or adoptive relationship exists.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1)· applies throughout the law
oral argument
口頭弁論
The hearing at which the parties to a civil lawsuit or another court proceeding put their case to the court by speaking: the parties must argue a lawsuit before the court in oral argument, though in a case to be concluded by a ruling (決定) the court decides whether to hold one (Code of Civil Procedure, Article 87, paragraph (1)), and the rule gives way where a provision says otherwise (paragraph (3)): the court may, for one, dismiss without oral argument an action that is unlawful and cannot be put right (Article 140). The presiding judge directs it (Article 148, paragraph (1)), it must as a rule be prepared in writing, in briefs (準備書面) (Article 161, paragraph (1)), though not in a summary court (簡易裁判所) (Article 276, paragraph (1)), and where the court finds it appropriate it may, after hearing the parties, hold it by a video link, a party who takes part that way being treated as having appeared (Article 87-2, paragraphs (1) and (3)). If a plaintiff or defendant does not appear on the first date for oral argument, or appears but does not argue the merits, the court may treat what their complaint, written answer or other briefs say as stated and have the other party argue (Article 158); a party who does not make clear that they dispute a fact the other party alleges is deemed to admit it, unless the argument as a whole shows they disputed it (Article 159, paragraph (1)), and so is a party who does not appear, unless they were summoned by service by publication (公示送達) (paragraph (3)). If both parties fail to appear on a date for oral argument, or leave without arguing, and neither asks for a new date within one month, the action is deemed withdrawn, as it is when that happens on two dates in a row (Article 263). The judgment is given by the judges who took part in the oral argument it rests on (Article 249, paragraph (1)), as a rule within two months of the day oral argument concludes (Article 251, paragraph (1)). The court clerk makes an electronic record (電子調書) of each date (Article 160, paragraph (1)), and a breach of the rules that oral argument be public is a ground for a final appeal (上告) (Article 312, paragraph (2), item (v)).
Written by AI using Code of Civil Procedure, Arts. 87, 87-2, 140, 148, 158 to 161, 249, 251, 263, 276, 312 as a reference.