Personal jurisdiction is sometimes referred to as in pesonam jurisdiction. Basically it means that a court only has an ability to make enforceable orders affecting people who could forsee being sued in the state.
A person who lives in California can forsee being sued in California. California has jurisdiction over any individual that is domiciled or lives in the state of California.
In order to exercise personal jurisdiction over a non domiciled individual, the person must forsee that a legal suit is possible. When the state of California exercieses jurisdiction over the non-resident, it must not offend "traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice."
If a person does not live in California, then that person can only be sued if the individual has minimum contacts with the state of California or one of California's long arm statutes allow California to exercise jurisdiction over that individual.
Minimum contacts with the forum state must be substantial, continuous, and systematic. Minimum contacts are analyzed on a case by case basis meaning that the family court will look at each case to determine if the facts are sufficient enough for the court to exercise jurisdiction.
In family law cases, the court will assess what action was taken by the individual so that he or she could foresee being subject to the court's jurisdiction over him or her. If an individual has never lived in the state of California, has little or no contact with the state, and does not come to the state of California, he or she will not be subject to any California orders.
In order to satisfy the minimum contacts with the State of California, it must be shown that the individual pusposefully availed himself or herself to California and the nexus of the relationship is so that it is reasonable and fair to require someone to appear and defend himself or herself in an action.