# 家事事件手続法 / Domestic Relations Case Procedure Act — 第二章 (Part 1, Chapter 2)

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- Law: 家事事件手続法 (Domestic Relations Case Procedure Act), 平成二十三年法律第五十二号
- English title "Domestic Relations Case Procedure Act": Ministry of Justice translation
- Kind: Act — the distinction between 法律 (Act), 政令 (Cabinet Order), 省令 (Ministerial Order) and 条例 (local ordinance) decides who may issue it and what it may say.
- Provision: 第二章 (Part 1, Chapter 2) — address `pt-1/ch-2`
- Text: the text as amended with effect from 2028-12-23 (On a day set by Cabinet Order, no later than 23 December 2028 — the amending law allows up to 30 months from promulgation. The exact day is not fixed yet.) — NOT yet in force (revision 20281223_508AC0000000045)
- URL (this text's page, at this provision): https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2
- The same address in the text in force (its wording there may differ): https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/pt-1/ch-2
- Every provision below carries its address and its place on this text's page on the line under it.
- Japanese text: e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁). English: as marked on each line below.

Only the Japanese as published by the government has legal effect; the text
below is a copy of it. Every English rendering below is a translation and
says which kind: the Ministry of Justice's translation, or this
site's machine translation, whose model and date the Sources list names.
They are never merged and never substituted for one another.
The Ministry's English is given only where this text's Japanese is a wording
the Ministry translated — the same as the text in force, or for a text not yet
in force, a wording it translated ahead; every other paragraph's English is
machine translation.

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## 第二章　管轄 — Chapter II Jurisdiction
<sup>heading: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>pt-1/ch-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2</sup>

### 第四条（管轄が住所地により定まる場合の管轄権を有する家庭裁判所） — (Family Court's Jurisdiction Determined by Place of Domicile)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-4 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-4</sup>

  **第一項**  家事事件は、管轄が人の住所地により定まる場合において、日本国内に住所がないとき又は住所が知れないときはその居所地を管轄する家庭裁判所の管轄に属し、日本国内に居所がないとき又は居所が知れないときはその最後の住所地を管轄する家庭裁判所の管轄に属する。
  <sup>art-4/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-4/par-1</sup>
  With regard to domestic relations cases for which jurisdiction is determined by the place of domicile of a person, if the person has no domicile in Japan or the person's domicile is unknown, the case is subject to the jurisdiction of the family court which has jurisdiction over the person's place of residence, and if the person has no residence in Japan or the person's residence is unknown, the case is subject to the jurisdiction of the family court which has jurisdiction over the person's last place of domicile.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第五条（優先管轄） — (Preferential Jurisdiction)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-5 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-5</sup>

  **第一項**  この法律の他の規定により二以上の家庭裁判所が管轄権を有するときは、家事事件は、先に申立てを受け、又は職権で手続を開始した家庭裁判所が管轄する。
  <sup>art-5/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-5/par-1</sup>
  If two or more family courts have jurisdiction over a domestic relations case pursuant to other provisions of this Act, the domestic relations case is subject to the jurisdiction of the family court that first received a petition or commenced proceedings by its own authority.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation with a slip corrected by this site — not the Ministry's text; the Ministry printed: "If two or more family courts have jurisdiction over a domestic relations case pursuant to other provisions of this Act, the domestic relations case is subject to the jurisdiction of the family court that first received a petition or commenced proceedings by its own authority ." — https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4512/tb</sup>

### 第六条（管轄裁判所の指定） — (Designation of a Court with Jurisdiction)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-6 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-6</sup>

  **第一項**  管轄裁判所が法律上又は事実上裁判権を行うことができないときは、その裁判所の直近上級の裁判所は、申立てにより又は職権で、管轄裁判所を定める。
  <sup>art-6/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-6/par-1</sup>
  If a court with jurisdiction is unable to exercise its jurisdiction de jure or de facto, its immediate upper instance court determines the court with jurisdiction upon petition or by its own authority.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第二項**  裁判所の管轄区域が明確でないため管轄裁判所が定まらないときは、関係のある裁判所に共通する直近上級の裁判所は、申立てにより又は職権で、管轄裁判所を定める。
  <sup>art-6/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-6/par-2</sup>
  If a court with jurisdiction is not determined due to unclarity of jurisdictional area divisions, the immediate upper instance court common to the relevant courts determines the court with jurisdiction upon petition or by its own authority.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第三項**  前二項の規定により管轄裁判所を定める裁判に対しては、不服を申し立てることができない。
  <sup>art-6/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-6/par-3</sup>
  No appeal may be entered against a judicial decision to determine a court with jurisdiction pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第七条（管轄権を有する家庭裁判所の特例） — (Special Provisions on Family Court's Jurisdiction)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-7 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-7</sup>

  **第一項**  この法律の他の規定により家事事件の管轄が定まらないときは、その家事事件は、審判又は調停を求める事項に係る財産の所在地又は最高裁判所規則で定める地を管轄する家庭裁判所の管轄に属する。
  <sup>art-7/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-7/par-1</sup>
  If jurisdiction over a domestic relations case is not determined pursuant to other provisions of this Act, the domestic relations case is subject to the jurisdiction of the family court having the jurisdiction over the location of the properties which may be involved in the matter for which adjudication or mediation is sought, or over a place specified by the Rules of the Supreme Court.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation with a slip corrected by this site — not the Ministry's text; the Ministry printed: "If jurisdiction over a domestic relations case is not determined pursuant to other provisions of this Act, the domestic relations case is subject to the jurisdiction of the family court having the jurisdiction over the location of the properties which may be involved in the matter for which adjudication or conciliation is sought, or over a place specified by the Rules of the Supreme Court." — https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4512/tb</sup>

### 第八条（管轄の標準時） — (Time Standards for Determining Jurisdiction)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-8 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-8</sup>

  **第一項**  裁判所の管轄は、家事審判若しくは家事調停の申立てがあった時又は裁判所が職権で家事事件の手続を開始した時を標準として定める。
  <sup>art-8/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-8/par-1</sup>
  The jurisdiction of a court is determined on the basis of the time when a petition for adjudication of domestic relations or mediation of domestic relations is filed or when a court commences the proceedings of a domestic relations case by its own authority.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation with a slip corrected by this site — not the Ministry's text; the Ministry printed: "The jurisdiction of a court is determined on the basis of the time when a petition for adjudication of domestic relations or conciliation of domestic relations is filed or when a court commences the proceedings of a domestic relations case by its own authority ." — https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4512/tb</sup>

### 第九条（移送等） — (Transfers)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-9 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-9</sup>

  **第一項**  裁判所は、家事事件の全部又は一部がその管轄に属しないと認めるときは、申立てにより又は職権で、これを管轄裁判所に移送する。ただし、家庭裁判所は、事件を処理するために特に必要があると認めるときは、職権で、家事事件の全部又は一部を管轄権を有する家庭裁判所以外の家庭裁判所に移送し、又は自ら処理することができる。
  <sup>art-9/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-9/par-1</sup>
  When a court finds that the whole or part of a domestic relations case is not subject to its jurisdiction, it transfers the case to a court with jurisdiction upon petition or by its own authority; provided, however, that when a family court finds it to be particularly necessary in order to handle a domestic relations case, it may transfer the whole or part of the domestic relations case to a family court other than the family court which has jurisdiction over the case, or may process the case by itself.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第二項**  家庭裁判所は、家事事件がその管轄に属する場合においても、次の各号に掲げる事由があるときは、職権で、家事事件の全部又は一部を当該各号に定める家庭裁判所に移送することができる。
  <sup>art-9/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-9/par-2</sup>
  Even where a domestic relations case is subject to the jurisdiction of a family court, if any of the grounds set forth in the following items exists, the family court may, by its own authority, transfer the whole or part of the domestic relations case to the family court specified respectively in these items:
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **一**  家事事件の手続が遅滞することを避けるため必要があると認めるときその他相当と認めるとき　第五条の規定により管轄権を有しないこととされた家庭裁判所
    <sup>art-9/par-2/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-9/par-2/item-1</sup>
    when the family court finds it to be necessary to transfer the domestic relations case in order to avoid delaying the proceedings of the case or finds it to be appropriate to do so for any other reasons:the family court that is not vested with jurisdiction over the case pursuant to the provisions of Article 5; or
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **二**  事件を処理するために特に必要があると認めるとき　前号の家庭裁判所以外の家庭裁判所
    <sup>art-9/par-2/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-9/par-2/item-2</sup>
    when the family court finds it to be particularly necessary to transfer the domestic relations case in order to process the case:a family court other than the court set forth in the preceding item.
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation with a slip corrected by this site — not the Ministry's text; the Ministry printed: "when the family court finds it to be particularly necessary to transfer the domestic relations case in order to process the case:a family court other than the court set forth in the preceding paragraph." — https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4512/tb</sup>

  **第三項**  前二項の規定による移送の裁判及び第一項の申立てを却下する裁判に対しては、即時抗告をすることができる。
  <sup>art-9/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-9/par-3</sup>
  An immediate appeal may be filed against a judicial decision of transfer under the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs and a judicial decision to dismiss the petition set forth in paragraph (1).
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第四項**  前項の規定による移送の裁判に対する即時抗告は、執行停止の効力を有する。
  <sup>art-9/par-4 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-9/par-4</sup>
  An immediate appeal against a judicial decision of transfer under the provisions of the preceding paragraph has the effect of a stay of execution.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第五項**  民事訴訟法第二十二条の規定は、家事事件の移送の裁判について準用する。
  <sup>art-9/par-5 · https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-9/par-5</sup>
  The provisions of Article 22 of the Code of Civil Procedure apply mutatis mutandis to a judicial decision of transfer of a domestic relations case.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

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## Cites
- art-6/par-3: 前二項 → 家事事件手続法 第六条第一項 (Article 6, paragraph (1)), art-6/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-6/par-1
- art-6/par-3: 前二項 → 家事事件手続法 第六条第二項 (Article 6, paragraph (2)), art-6/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-6/par-2
- art-9/par-2/item-1: 第五条 → 家事事件手続法 第五条 (Article 5), art-5 — https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-5
- art-9/par-2/item-2: 前号 → 家事事件手続法 第九条第二項第一号 (Article 9, paragraph (2), item (i)), art-9/par-2/item-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-9/par-2/item-1
- art-9/par-3: 前二項 → 家事事件手続法 第九条第一項 (Article 9, paragraph (1)), art-9/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-9/par-1
- art-9/par-3: 前二項 → 家事事件手続法 第九条第二項 (Article 9, paragraph (2)), art-9/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-9/par-2
- art-9/par-4: 前項 → 家事事件手続法 第九条第三項 (Article 9, paragraph (3)), art-9/par-3 — https://japanlaw.org/en/domestic-relations-case-procedure-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000045/text/pt-1/ch-2#art-9/par-3
- art-9/par-5: 民事訴訟法第二十二条 → 民事訴訟法 第二十二条 (Article 22), art-22 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-civil-procedure/art-22 · https://japanlaw.org/l/408AC0000000109/art-22

---

## Sources

- claude-opus-5-5 — Corrections to the Ministry of Justice's English of paragraphs, written 2026-11-05
- e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁) — 家事事件手続法 — the text as 令和八年法律第四十五号 leaves it, from a date not yet fixed (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/423AC0000000052/20281223_508AC0000000045), retrieved 2026-11-05
- Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Domestic Relations Case Procedure Act (家事事件手続法), Article 5, paragraph (1) — the Ministry of Justice's English as printed (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4512/tb), retrieved 2026-11-05
- Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Domestic Relations Case Procedure Act (家事事件手続法), Article 7, paragraph (1) — the Ministry of Justice's English as printed (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4512/tb), retrieved 2026-11-05
- Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Domestic Relations Case Procedure Act (家事事件手続法), Article 8, paragraph (1) — the Ministry of Justice's English as printed (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4512/tb), retrieved 2026-11-05
- Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Domestic Relations Case Procedure Act (家事事件手続法), Article 9, paragraph (2), item (ii) — the Ministry of Justice's English as printed (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4512/tb), retrieved 2026-11-05
- Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Domestic Relations Case Procedure Act — Ministry of Justice translation (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4512/tb), retrieved 2026-11-05
- This site's parser, version 225 — 家事事件手続法 — structure, counts, cross-references and defined terms, computed 2026-11-05