# § 3953. Mortgages and trust deeds
**(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.
**(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.
**(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.
**(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.
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**Source Credit**: (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.)
## Editorial Notes
### Codification
Section was formerly classified to section 533 of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.
### Prior Provisions
A prior section 303 of , art. III, as added , , related to settlement of cases involving stayed proceedings to foreclose mortgage on, resume possession of, or terminate contract for purchase of, personal property, prior to the general amendment of this Act by . See .
Another prior section 303 of , art. III, , related to stay of action to resume possession of motor vehicle, tractor, or their accessories, encumbered by purchase money mortgage, conditional sales contract, etc., prior to repeal by , .
### Amendments
2018—Subsecs. (b), (c). repealed , (3). See 2012 Amendment notes below.
2012—Subsecs. (b), (c). , as amended, which would have revived the provisions of subsecs. (b) and (c) as in effect on , was repealed by .
, (b), substituted “within one year” for “within 9 months” in introductory provisions.
2010—Subsec. (d). amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (d) related to penalties.
2008—Subsecs. (b), (c). substituted “9 months” for “90 days” in introductory provisions.
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment; Revival
> “The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) [amending this section] shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [
>
> ].”
, , , provided that:
, , , as amended by , , ; , , ; , , , which provided that the amendments made by subsecs. (a) and (b) of (amending this section) would expire on , was repealed by , , .
, , , as amended by , , ; , , ; , , , which provided that, effective , the provisions of subsecs. (b) and (c) of this section, as in effect on , would be revived, was repealed by , , .
### Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
> “The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [
>
> ].”
, , , as amended by , , ; , , , provided that:
### Effective Date
Section applicable to any case not final before , see , set out as a note under .