The venue of civil actions for the collection of an open account, a statement of account, account stated, written or oral contract relating to the purchase of goods, wares or merchandise, labor or services, or for the collection of any note or other instrument of indebtedness shall be, at the option of the plaintiff or plaintiffs, in either of the following:
§ 142.Action For Collection On Open Account, Statement of Account, Account Stated, Note Or Other Instrument of Indebtedness - Contracts For Goods, Wares, Merchandise, Labor Or Services
Chapter 5: Venue · Last amended November 1, 1987 · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceSection 142 lets a plaintiff collecting on an open account, a contract for goods or services, or a note or other debt instrument sue either wherever venue is otherwise proper or in the county where the debt was contracted or the instrument was given.
Full Text of § 142
(a) in any county in which venue may be properly laid as now provided by law; or
(b) in the county in which the debt was contracted or in which the note or other instrument of indebtedness was given.
Amendment History
Amended by Laws 1988, SB 212, c. 4, §1, eff. 11/1/1987.
Plain-English Summary
For civil actions to collect an open account, a statement of account, an account stated, a written or oral contract for the purchase of goods, wares, or merchandise, labor, or services, or a note or other instrument of indebtedness, the plaintiff may sue either in any county where venue would otherwise properly lie, or in the county where the debt was contracted or the note or instrument was given.
This adds an option rather than replacing the general venue rules; a plaintiff pursuing a routine collection claim gets the debt's origin county as an alternative to whatever venue other statutes already allow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I sue to collect on an unpaid open account or invoice in Oklahoma?
Either anywhere venue would otherwise be proper, or in the county where the debt was contracted.
Does this section cover collecting on a promissory note?
Yes, it covers actions to collect any note or other instrument of indebtedness, letting you sue where it was given.
Does this add a venue option or replace the general venue rules?
It adds an option, letting you sue in the county where the debt was contracted or the note was given, on top of any county where venue is otherwise properly laid.
Does this cover both written and oral contracts?
Yes, the text covers written or oral contracts relating to the purchase of goods, wares, merchandise, labor, or services.
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 collection lawsuit venueopen account venue Oklahoma12 O.S. § 142where to sue on a promissory note Oklahoma