source:
  type: regulation
  id: scra-50usc-3953
  authority: 50 U.S.C. §3953 — Mortgages and trust deeds (SCRA)
  description: 'The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act §3953 prohibits non-judicial

    foreclosure of pre-service mortgages and trust deeds during, and within

    one year after, a servicemember''s period of military service; requires

    a court order for any sale, foreclosure, or seizure within that

    protected window; authorizes courts to stay proceedings or adjust the

    obligation when ability to pay is materially affected by service; and

    makes knowing prohibited foreclosure a federal misdemeanor.

    '
obligations:
- id: scra-50usc-3953-a
  canonical_id: scra-50usc-3953-a
  section: 50 U.S.C. §3953(a)
  description: '(a): (a) Mortgage as security This section applies only to an obligation on real or personal
    property owned by a servicemember that— (1) originated before the period of the servicemember ’s military
    service and for which the servicemember is still obligated; and (2) is secured by a mortgage, trust
    deed, …'
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - usc-statute
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 50 U.S.C. §3953(a)
    source_class: scra-statute
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/50/3953
    snapshot_id: ba9ca876255d002e
    fetched_at: '2026-05-22T11:32:23Z'
    content_hash: sha256:0440faadb57a441f582f39515c08f7a140a26c6d26bce817c194331043aed96f
    paragraph_quote: (a) Mortgage as security This section applies only to an obligation on real or personal
      property owned by a servicemember that— (1) originated before the period of the servicemember ’s
      military service and for which the servicemember is still obligated; and (2) is secured by a mortgage,
      trust deed, or other security in the nature of a mortgage.
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 50 U.S.C. §3953 from Cornell LII snapshot ba9ca876255d002e;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: scra-50usc-3953-b
  canonical_id: scra-50usc-3953-b
  section: 50 U.S.C. §3953(b)
  description: '(b): (b) Stay of proceedings and adjustment of obligation In an action filed during, or
    within one year after, a servicemember ’s period of military service to enforce an obligation described
    in subsection (a), the court may after a hearing and on its own motion and shall upon application
    by a servicemem…'
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - usc-statute
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 50 U.S.C. §3953(a)
    source_class: scra-statute
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/50/3953
    snapshot_id: ba9ca876255d002e
    fetched_at: '2026-05-22T11:32:23Z'
    content_hash: sha256:0440faadb57a441f582f39515c08f7a140a26c6d26bce817c194331043aed96f
    paragraph_quote: (b) Stay of proceedings and adjustment of obligation In an action filed during, or
      within one year after, a servicemember ’s period of military service to enforce an obligation described
      in subsection (a), the court may after a hearing and on its own motion and shall upon application
      by a servicemember when the servicemember’ s ability to comply with the obligation is materially
      affected by military service— (1) stay the proceedings for a period of time as justice and equity
      require, or (2) adjust the obligation to preserve the interests of all parties.
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 50 U.S.C. §3953 from Cornell LII snapshot ba9ca876255d002e;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: scra-50usc-3953-c
  canonical_id: scra-50usc-3953-c
  section: 50 U.S.C. §3953(c)
  description: '(c): (c) Sale or foreclosure A sale, foreclosure, or seizure of property for a breach
    of an obligation described in subsection (a) shall not be valid if made during, or within one year
    after, the period of the servicemember ’s military service except— (1) upon a court order granted
    before such sale, fore…'
  type: dont
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - usc-statute
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 50 U.S.C. §3953(a)
    source_class: scra-statute
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/50/3953
    snapshot_id: ba9ca876255d002e
    fetched_at: '2026-05-22T11:32:23Z'
    content_hash: sha256:0440faadb57a441f582f39515c08f7a140a26c6d26bce817c194331043aed96f
    paragraph_quote: (c) Sale or foreclosure A sale, foreclosure, or seizure of property for a breach
      of an obligation described in subsection (a) shall not be valid if made during, or within one year
      after, the period of the servicemember ’s military service except— (1) upon a court order granted
      before such sale, foreclosure, or seizure with a return made and approved by the court ; or (2)
      if made pursuant to an agreement as provided in section 3918 of this title .
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 50 U.S.C. §3953 from Cornell LII snapshot ba9ca876255d002e;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: scra-50usc-3953-d
  canonical_id: scra-50usc-3953-d
  section: 50 U.S.C. §3953(d)
  description: '(d): (d) Misdemeanor A person who knowingly makes or causes to be made a sale, foreclosure,
    or seizure of property that is prohibited by subsection (c), or who knowingly attempts to do so, shall
    be fined as provided in title 18, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. (Oct. 17, 1940,
    ch. 888, …'
  type: dont
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - usc-statute
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 50 U.S.C. §3953(a)
    source_class: scra-statute
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/50/3953
    snapshot_id: ba9ca876255d002e
    fetched_at: '2026-05-22T11:32:23Z'
    content_hash: sha256:0440faadb57a441f582f39515c08f7a140a26c6d26bce817c194331043aed96f
    paragraph_quote: (d) Misdemeanor A person who knowingly makes or causes to be made a sale, foreclosure,
      or seizure of property that is prohibited by subsection (c), or who knowingly attempts to do so,
      shall be fined as provided in title 18, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. (Oct.
      17, 1940, ch. 888, title III, § 303, as added Pub. L. 108–189, § 1 , Dec. 19, 2003 , 117 Stat. 2847
      ; amended Pub. L. 110–289, div. B, title II, § 2203(a) , July 30, 2008 , 122 Stat. 2849 ; Pub. L.
      111–275, title III, § 303(b)(4) , Oct. 13, 2010 , 124 Stat. 2878 ; Pub. L. 112–154, title VII, §
      710(a) , (b), (d)(3), Aug. 6, 2012 , 126 Stat. 1208 ; Pub. L. 115–174, title III, § 313 , May 24,
      2018 , 132 Stat. 1356 .)
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 50 U.S.C. §3953 from Cornell LII snapshot ba9ca876255d002e;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
