Rechtsort

Rechtsort is a term found in German-language legal writing that denotes the legal order or jurisdiction applicable to a legal relationship, particularly in private international law. The word literally means "place of law" and is used to indicate the regime whose rules govern a dispute, contract, or other legal act.

In practice, the term can refer to different aspects of the governing framework. In many contexts, Rechtsort means the applicable substantive law—the conflict-of-laws rules that determine which country's law applies to the merits of the case. In others, it is used more broadly to include the procedural forum or court competent to resolve disputes. The precise meaning thus varies by author and jurisdiction, and the term is not uniformly defined across legal systems.

How the Rechtsort is established depends on the context. If parties have not chosen a governing law, the court’s conflicts rules typically identify the Rechtsort. If the parties have a choice-of-law clause, the selected country or legal system usually serves as the Rechtsort. In cross-border matters, instruments such as international treaties or EU regulations may influence which Rechtsort applies, especially for contractual obligations; however, substantive choice of law remains subject to national rules and international agreements.

See also: Anwendbares Recht, Gerichtsstand, Erfüllungsort, Konfliktrecht, Rechtsordnung.