Every other action must be brought in the county in which the defendant or some one of the defendants resides or resided at the time the claim arose, or may be summoned; except claims against makers of notes, claims, or other indebtedness which have been assigned, sold or transferred by or from the original payee or obligee, which claims against such original maker of such notes, claims or indebtedness can only be brought in the county in which the said maker of such note, claim or indebtedness or some one of the original makers of such note, claim or indebtedness resides or in the county in which the claim arose. Provided, however, this section shall not in any way change or limit Section 131 of this title.
§ 139.Other Actions - Venue When Creditor Has Assigned Right
Chapter 5: Venue · Last amended November 1, 2011 · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceSection 139 is Oklahoma's catch-all venue rule, every action not otherwise addressed goes in the county where a defendant resides or can be summoned, but a claim on an assigned note or debt can only be brought where the original maker resides or where the claim arose.
Full Text of § 139
Amendment History
R.L. 1910, § 4679; Amended by Laws 1915, SB 288, c. 62, §1, emerg. eff. 3/3/1915; Amended by Laws 1991, HB 1194, c. 30, §1, eff. 9/1/1991; Amended by Laws 2011, SB 527, c. 187, §1, eff. 11/1/2011.
Plain-English Summary
Every action not covered by a more specific venue statute must be brought in the county where the defendant, or one of several defendants, resides or resided when the claim arose, or where they may be summoned. But a claim against the original maker of a note, claim, or other debt that has since been assigned, sold, or transferred works differently: it can only be brought in the county where the original maker resides, or where the claim arose, protecting a debtor from being sued far from home just because the debt changed hands.
The section doesn't touch § 131's real-property venue rule either way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I bring a lawsuit that isn't covered by any other specific venue rule?
In the county where the defendant, or one of several defendants, resides or resided when the claim arose, or where they may be summoned.
What if I bought a note or debt from someone else and want to sue the original maker?
You can only sue in the county where the original maker resides or where the claim arose, not wherever the current holder chooses.
Why does the assignment rule exist?
It keeps a debtor from being dragged into a distant county just because the original creditor sold or transferred the debt.
Does this section override the real-property venue rule in Section 131?
No, the text expressly says it doesn't change or limit § 131.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: Oklahoma catch-all venue ruleassigned debt venue Oklahoma12 O.S. § 139residual venue statute Oklahoma