What is the term for challenging a court's jurisdiction before addressing the merits?

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Challenging a court’s jurisdiction before addressing the merits is a declinatory challenge, also called an in limine litis challenge. This is a preliminary objection that tests whether the court has authority to hear the case at all, before any discussion of the facts or legal arguments on the merits. It’s raised at the outset—typically in the defendant’s answer or a motion to dismiss—and targets jurisdictional defects such as lack of subject-matter or personal jurisdiction or improper venue. If the court determines it lacks jurisdiction, the action is dismissed without evaluating the merits.

The other terms don’t fit because compulsion to appear refers to compelling attendance, res judicata deals with matters already adjudicated, and voluntary appearance means submitting to the court’s jurisdiction by appearing without objecting.