# § 3912. Jurisdiction and applicability of chapter
**(a)** **Jurisdiction** This chapter applies to—
**(1)** the United States;
**(2)** each of the States, including the political subdivisions thereof; and
**(3)** all territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
**(b)** **Applicability to proceedings** This chapter applies to any judicial or administrative proceeding commenced in any court or agency in any jurisdiction subject to this chapter. This chapter does not apply to criminal proceedings.
**(c)** **Court in which application may be made** When under this chapter any application is required to be made to a court in which no proceeding has already been commenced with respect to the matter, such application may be made to any court which would otherwise have jurisdiction over the matter.
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**Source Credit**: (Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 888, title I, § 102, as added Pub. L. 108–189, § 1, Dec. 19, 2003, 117 Stat. 2837.)
## Editorial Notes
### Codification
Section was formerly classified to section 512 of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.
### Prior Provisions
A prior section 102 of , art. I, ; , , , related to territorial application, jurisdiction of courts, and form of procedure, prior to the general amendment of this Act by .
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date
Section applicable to any case not final before , see , set out as a note under .