Legal Definitions - full faith and credit

The legal principle of full faith and credit is a fundamental requirement under the U.S. Constitution (Article IV, Section 1) that mandates states to respect and uphold the laws, public records, and court judgments of other states.

In essence, it means that if a legal decision or a valid law is established in one state, other states must generally recognize and enforce it, rather than allowing parties to relitigate the same issues or disregard legal statuses simply by crossing state lines. This ensures consistency, prevents endless legal disputes, and promotes a unified legal system across the country. There are limited exceptions, such as when the court issuing the original judgment did not have proper authority (jurisdiction) to hear the case.

Here are some examples to illustrate this principle:

• Child Support Orders: Imagine a divorce decree is issued in Texas, which includes an order for one parent to pay child support. If that parent later moves to Florida, the courts in Florida are generally required by the Full Faith and Credit Clause to recognize and enforce the Texas child support order. The parent cannot simply argue in Florida that they should not have to pay, or that Florida's child support laws are different. Florida courts must give "full faith and credit" to the Texas judgment, ensuring the child receives the support ordered, regardless of state borders.

• Contract Dispute Judgments: Suppose a business in Oregon sues a client in Washington for breach of contract and wins a judgment for damages. If the client then moves their assets to Oregon, the Oregon courts must recognize the judgment from Washington. The Oregon business would not have to sue the client again in Oregon to collect the money; instead, the Oregon courts would help enforce the existing Washington judgment, demonstrating respect for the legal decision made in the neighboring state.

• Recognition of Marriage: If a couple legally marries in Nevada, and then moves to Arizona, the state of Arizona must recognize their marriage as valid. Even if Arizona's specific marriage requirements or procedures differ from Nevada's, the Full Faith and Credit Clause ensures that a marriage legally performed in one state is considered valid and binding in all other states, preventing confusion and ensuring legal consistency for married couples nationwide.