Bankruptcy court has nonexclusive jurisdiction over (1) all civil disputes based on bankruptcy law, (2) all civil disputes based on nonbankruptcy law but arising in a bankruptcy case, and (3) all civil disputes related to a bankruptcy case. A dispute is related to a bankruptcy case if its outcome could have any conceivable effect on a bankruptcy case. In re Fietz, 852 F.2d 455 (9th Cir. 1988). State court has concurrent jurisdiction to hear these issues.

Bankruptcy court has no jurisdiction to hear civil matters of a noncommercial nature, such as severance of the marital relationship or child custody (because such matters have no effect per se on the bankruptcy case).