LEX FORI (Lat. the law of tbe forum). The law of the country, to the tribunal of which appeal is made. 5 Clark & F. Hou. L. 1.
2. The forms of remedies, modes of pro ceeding, and execution of judgments are to be regulated solely and exclusively by the laws of the place where the action is instituted. 8 Clark & F. Hou. L. 121 ; 11 Mees. & W. Exch. 877; 10 Barnew. & C. 903 ; 5 La. 295 ; 2 Rand. Va. 303 ; 6 Humphr. Tenn. 45 ; 2 Ga. 158 ; 13 N. H. 321 •, 24 Barb. N. Y. 68 ; 4 Zabr. N. J. 333 ; 9 Gill, Md. 1 ; 17 Penn. St. 91 ; 18 Ala. br. s. 248 ; 4 McLean, C. C. 540 ; 5 How. 83 ; 11 Ind. 385 ; 33 Miss. 423.
The lex fori is to decide who are proper parties to a suit. 11 Ind. 485 ; 33 Miss. 423; Merlin, Rep. Etrang. II. ; Westlake, Priv. Int. Law, 121. Generally, all foreigners who sue in their own name, including sovereigns, unless specially disabled, may sue. 2 Bligh, br. s. 51; 2 Sim. Ch. 94 ; 4 Russ. Ch. 225 ; 1 Dowl. & C. 169. Foreign corporations may sue, 8 Barnew. & C. 427 ; 9 Ves. Ch. 347 ; 4 Johns. Ch. N. Y. 370 ; 13 Pet. 519, and be sued, when they have property within the jurisdiction. 9 N. H. 394; 3 Metc. Mass. 420 ; 16 Beav. Rolls, 287.
3. The assignee of a debt or chose in action other than a negotiable instrument may not sue in his own name, 6 Maule & S. 99 ; 6 Binn. Penn. 374 ; 7 Serg. & R. Penn. 483; 9 Mass. 357 ; 13 id. 146 ; 2 Johns. N. Y. 342 ; 5 Johns. Ch. N. Y. 60 ; 4 Conn. 312 ; 9 Am. Jur. 42 ; 11 id. 101, whether a voluntary or an involuntary assignee, 6 Maule & S. 126 ; 4 Johns. Ch. N. Y. 450 ; 33 Miss. 423 ; 1 Curt. C. C. 168; but see 6 N. Y. 320 ; 4 Zabr. N. J. 270 ; CONFLICT OF Lews ; nor a foreign executor or administrator, by virtue of his appointment by a foreign power. 24 Ga. 356 ; 15 Tex. 463 ; 1 Humphr. Tenn. 54 ; 10 Cush. Mass. 172 ; 2 Jones, Eq. No. C. 276; 10 Rich. So. C. 393 ; 3 Sneed, Tenn. 55 ; 7 Ind. 211. But see 16 Ark. 28; 4 McLean, C. C. 4.
The authority of a guardian to sue is local, and restricted to the jurisdiction where granted. 9 Ricb. Eq: So. C. 311. See 30 Ala. N. S. 613 ; LETTEDS TESTAMENTARY.
4. The lex fori governs as to the natnre, extent, and character of the remedy, 17 Conn.
500 ; 37 N. H. 86 ; 2 Pat. & H. Va. 144, au in case of instruments considered sealed where made, but not in the country where sued upon. 4 Cow. N. Y. 508 ; 5 Johns. N.
Y. 239 ; 2 Caines, N. Y. 362 ; 1 Bos. & P. 360 ; 8 Pet. 361 ; 3 Gill & J. Md. 234 ; 3 Conn. 523 ; 4 id. 47, 49 ; 8 How. 451 ; 9 Mo. 56, 157.
Arrest and imprisonment may be allowed by the lex fori, though they are not by the lex loci contractus. 2 East, 453 ; 2 Burr. 1089; 5 Clark & F. Hou. L. 1 ; 1 Barnew. & Ad. 284 ; 14 Johns. N. Y. 346 ; 3 Mas. C.
C. 88 ; 5 id. 378 ; 1 Pet. 317 ; 1 Wash. C. C. 376 ; 10 Wheat. 1.
For the law of interest as effected by the /ex fbri, see CONFLICT OF LAWS. FOT the law in relation to damages, see DAMAGES.
The forms of judgment and execution are to be determined by the lex fori. 3 Mas. C.
C. 88 ; 5 id. 378 ; 4 Conn. 47 ; 14 Pet. 67. The lex fori decides as to deprivation of remedy.
5. Where a debt is discharged by the law of the place creating it, such discharge will amount to a discharge everywhere. 5 East, 124 ; 12 Wheat. 360 ; 1 W. Blackst. 258 ; 13 Mass. 1 •, 16 Mart. La. 297 ; 6 Roh. La. 15 ; 7 Cush. Mass. 15; 1 Buck, 57, 61 ; 1 Woodb.
& M. C. C. 115 ; 23 Wend. N. Y. 87; 5 Binn. Penn. 332 ; 16 Johns. N. Y. 233 ; 7 Johns. Ch. N. Y. 297 ; 16 Me. 206. It must be a discharge from the debt, and not an exemp tion from the effect of particular means of enforcing the remedy. 5 Binn. Penn. 381 ; 14 Johns. N. Y. 346 ; 10 id. 300; 8 Barnew.
& C. 479 ; 1 Atk. Ch. 255 ; 2 H. Blackst. 553 ; 7 Me. 337 ; 11 Mart. La. 730 ; 15 Mass. 419 ; 5 Mas. C. C. 378.
Under the constitution of the United States, the insolvent laws of the various states which purport to discharge the debt are, at most, allowed that effect only as against their own citizens ; as between their own citizens and strangers, where the claims of the latter have not been proved, they only work a destruc tion in the remedy, 5 Mas. C. C. 375 ; 4 Conn. 47 ; 14 Pet. 67 ; 12 Wheat. 213, 358, 369 ; 8 Pick. Mass. 194 ; 3 Iowa, 299 ; at least, if there be no provision requiring performance in the state where the discharge is obtained.