Explain subject-matter jurisdiction and in personam jurisdiction

What will be an ideal response?

Jurisdiction means authority, or power, and in order for a court to hear a certain case, it must have two types of authority: subject-matter jurisdiction; and, in personam (or personal) jurisdiction. Subject-matter jurisdiction involves authority over the type of case being filed, which means that the court must be empowered to hear the kind of case the plaintiff is filing in that court. For instance, a bankruptcy court can't hear a divorce case, and a state court of general jurisdiction can't hear a case that belongs exclusively in federal court. Personal jurisdiction is the court's authority over the defendant. Although one might presume the court has to have personal jurisdiction over the plaintiff, that isn't an issue since the plaintiff voluntarily submits to the court's jurisdiction by filing the lawsuit in that court. Personal jurisdiction is an issue for the defendant because the lawsuit can't proceed if the court lacks personal jurisdiction over the defendant. Personal jurisdiction is obtained through service of process, and can be assisted through the application of a long-arm statute and its determination of the defendant's "minimum contacts" in the subject forum.