When the court finds that in the interest of substantial justice the action or proceeding should be heard in another forum, the court may stay or dismiss the action in whole or in part on any conditions that may be just.
§ 1701.05.Hearing In Another Forum - Stay Or Dismissal of Action
Chapter 35: Uniform Interstate and International Procedure Act · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceLets a court stay or dismiss an action, in whole or in part and on any just conditions, when it finds that hearing the case in another forum would better serve substantial justice.
Full Text of § 1701.05
Amendment History
Laws 1965, SB 333, c. 144, art. 1, § 1.05.
Plain-English Summary
Section 1701.05 gives an Oklahoma court a release valve when a case belongs somewhere else. If the court finds that the interest of substantial justice calls for the action or proceeding to be heard in another forum, it can stay the case, dismiss it, or do either one in part, on any conditions it finds just.
The statute leaves the substantial-justice judgment, and the conditions attached to a stay or dismissal, to the court's own discretion, rather than spelling out a fixed test or list of factors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an Oklahoma court send a case to another state's court instead of hearing it?
Yes. If the court finds that substantial justice calls for the action to be heard in another forum, it may stay or dismiss the case, in whole or in part, on any conditions it finds just.
What counts as "the interest of substantial justice" under this statute?
The statute doesn't define the phrase further -- it leaves that judgment to the court deciding whether another forum should hear the case.
Can the court dismiss only part of a case under this section?
Yes, the statute allows a stay or dismissal of the action or proceeding in whole or in part.
Can the court attach conditions to a stay or dismissal?
Yes, it may do so on any conditions that may be just.
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 forum non conveniens statute12 O.S. § 1701.05stay a case for a better forum oklahomadismiss lawsuit for another forum oklahoma