§ 171.081.Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction comes from the agreement itself.

The act of making the agreement is what confers jurisdiction, where the agreement provides for or authorizes an arbitration in this state and Section 171.001 applies to it.

Two powers follow. The court may enforce the agreement, and it may render judgment on an award under the chapter.

Enforcement covers the front end. Compelling arbitration, staying a competing proceeding, appointing arbitrators and the orders listed in Section 171.086.

Judgment on an award covers the back end. Confirmation, vacatur, modification, and the judgment that makes the award collectible.

The link to a Texas arbitration is the anchor. The agreement must provide for or authorize an arbitration in this state.

Jurisdiction and venue are different questions. This section supplies the court’s power; Sections 171.024, 171.096 and 171.097 decide which court exercises it.

Invoking that power takes a filing. Section 171.082 provides that filing an application with the clerk invokes the jurisdiction of the court.

An arbitration award is not self-executing. Without a judgment, the winner holds a document rather than something a sheriff can collect on, which is why this section pairs enforcement with judgment.