---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 U.S.C. § 3912"
title: "50"
title_heading: "War and National Defense"
number: "3912"
heading: "Jurisdiction and applicability of chapter"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/50/3912"
units:
  - "Chapter 50 — Servicemembers Civil Relief"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

# §3912. Jurisdiction and applicability of chapter

- (a) **Jurisdiction—** This chapter applies to—
  - (1) the United States;
  - (2) each of the [States](/usc/50/3911.md?p=6), including the political subdivisions thereof; and
  - (3) all territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
- (b) **Applicability to proceedings—** This chapter applies to any judicial or administrative proceeding commenced in any [court](/usc/50/3911.md?p=5) or agency in any jurisdiction subject to this chapter. This chapter does not apply to criminal proceedings.
- (c) **Court in which application may be made—** When under this chapter any application is required to be made to a [court](/usc/50/3911.md?p=5) in which no proceeding has already been commenced with respect to the matter, such application may be made to any [court](/usc/50/3911.md?p=5) which would otherwise have jurisdiction over the matter.

## Source credit

(Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 888, title I, § 102, as added Pub. L. 108–189, § 1, Dec. 19, 2003, 117 Stat. 2837.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 512 of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 102 of act Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 888, art. I, 54 Stat. 1179; Pub. L. 102–12, § 9(2), Mar. 18, 1991, 105 Stat. 39, related to territorial application, jurisdiction of courts, and form of procedure, prior to the general amendment of this Act by Pub. L. 108–189.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section applicable to any case not final before Dec. 19, 2003, see section 3 of Pub. L. 108–189, set out as a note under section 3901 of this title.