§532. Mortgages, trust deeds, etc.

(1) The provisions of this section shall apply only to obligations secured by mortgage, trust deed, or other security in the nature of a mortgage upon real or personal property owned by a person in military service at the commencement of the period of the military service and still so owned by him which obligations originated prior to such person's period of military service.

(2) In any proceeding commenced in any court during the period of military service to enforce such obligation arising out of nonpayment of any sum thereunder due or out of any other breach of the terms thereof occurring prior to or during the period of such service the court may, after hearing, in its discretion, on its own motion, and shall, on application to it by such person in military service or some person on his behalf, unless in the opinion of the court the ability of the defendant to comply with the terms of the obligation is not materially affected by reason of his military service-

(a) stay the proceedings as provided in this Act [sections 501 to 593 of this Appendix]; or

(b) make such other disposition of the case as may be equitable to conserve the interests of all parties.

(3) No sale, foreclosure, or seizure of property for nonpayment of any sum due under any such obligation, or for any other breach of the terms thereof, whether under a power of sale, under a judgment entered upon warrant of attorney to confess judgment contained therein, or otherwise, shall be valid if made during the period of military service or within three months thereafter, except pursuant to an agreement as provided in section 107 [section 517 of this Appendix], unless upon an order previously granted by the court and a return thereto made and approved by the court.

(4) Any person who shall knowingly make or cause to be made any sale, foreclosure, or seizure of property, defined as invalid by subsection (3) hereof, or attempts so to do, shall be fined as provided in title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not to exceed one year, or both.

(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 .)

Amendments

1991-Par. (3). Pub. L. 102–12, §9(10), struck out "after the date of enactment of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act Amendments of 1942 and" after "shall be valid if made".

Par. (4). Pub. L. 102–12, §9(9), substituted "shall be fined as provided in title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not to exceed one year," for "shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by imprisonment not to exceed one year or by fine not to exceed $1,000,".

1952-Subsec. (4). Act June 23, 1952, prohibited the making of sales, foreclosures, or seizures defined as invalid by subsec. (3) of this section.

1942-Subsec. (1). Act Oct. 6, 1942, §9(b), struck out "originating prior to the date of approval of this Act and" after "obligations" and inserted matter at end of subsection following "him".

Subsec. (2). Act Oct. 6, 1942, §9(c), struck out "except as provided in section 303," before "on application".

Subsecs. (3), (4). Act Oct. 6, 1942, §10, amended subsec. (3) generally and added subsec. (4).

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 530, 535 of this Appendix; title 12 sections 1739, 1750c.