MN SF612

Enacts the Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act in Minnesota Statutes chapter 548, establishing standards for courts to recognize and enforce judgments from foreign countries.

Applies to foreign-country judgments that grant or deny recovery of money and are final, conclusive, and enforceable under foreign law, but excludes tax judgments, fines, penalties, and domestic relations judgments.

Courts must recognize foreign judgments unless they were rendered under an unfair judicial system, the foreign court lacked personal or subject matter jurisdiction, or other specified grounds for non-recognition exist, with burden of proof on the resisting party.

Recognizes bases for personal jurisdiction including personal service, voluntary appearance, prior agreement to submit, defendant's domicile in the foreign country, business office presence, or operation of vehicles/aircraft in the foreign country.

Recognized foreign judgments become conclusive and enforceable in Minnesota to the same extent as sister state judgments; actions to recognize must be filed within 15 years or the judgment's effectiveness period in the foreign country, whichever is earlier; effective August 1, 2010.