§ 3952. Protection under installment contracts for purchase or lease

• (a)
  • (1) 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,
  • (2) 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.
• (b) A person who knowingly resumes possession of property in violation of subsection (a), or in violation of section 3918 of this title , 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.
• (c) 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.