2012 US Code
Title 50 - War and National Defense
Appendix (§§ 1 - 2420)
SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF ACT (§§ 501 - 597b)
ACT OCT. 17, 1940, CH. 888, 54 STAT. 1178 (§§ 501 - 597b)
Title III - RENT, INSTALLMENT CONTRACTS, MORTGAGES, LIENS, ASSIGNMENT, LEASES, TELEPHONE SERVICE CONTRACTS (§§ 531 - 538)
Section 532 - Protection under installment contracts for purchase or lease

After a servicemember enters military service, a contract by the servicemember for—

(A) the purchase of real or personal property (including a motor vehicle); or

(B) the lease or bailment of such property,

may not be rescinded or terminated for a breach of terms of the contract occurring before or during that person's military service, nor may the property be repossessed for such breach without a court order.

This section applies only to a contract for which a deposit or installment has been paid by the servicemember before the servicemember enters military service.

A person who knowingly resumes possession of property in violation of subsection (a), or in violation of section 107 of this Act [section 517 of this Appendix], or who knowingly attempts to do so, shall be fined as provided in title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

In a hearing based on this section, the court—

(1) may order repayment to the servicemember of all or part of the prior installments or deposits as a condition of terminating the contract and resuming possession of the property;

(2) may, on its own motion, and shall on application by a servicemember when the servicemember's ability to comply with the contract is materially affected by military service, stay the proceedings for a period of time as, in the opinion of the court, justice and equity require; or

(3) may make other disposition as is equitable to preserve the interests of all parties.

(Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 888, title III, §302, as added Pub. L. 108–189, §1, Dec. 19, 2003, 117 Stat. 2846; amended Pub. L. 111–275, title III, §303(b)(3), Oct. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 2878.)

A prior section 532, acts Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 888, art. III, §302, 54 Stat. 1182; Oct. 6, 1942, ch. 581, §§9(b), (c), 10, 56 Stat. 771, 772; June 23, 1952, ch. 450, 66 Stat. 151; Pub. L. 102–12, §9(9), (10), Mar. 18, 1991, 105 Stat. 40, related to mortgages and trust deeds, prior to the general amendment of this Act by Pub. L. 108–189. See section 533 of this Appendix.

2010—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–275 amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) related to penalties.