---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 U.S.C. § 3957"
title: "50"
title_heading: "War and National Defense"
number: "3957"
heading: "Protection of life insurance policy"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/50/3957"
units:
  - "Chapter 50 — Servicemembers Civil Relief"
  - "Subchapter III — Rent, Installment Contracts, Mortgages, Liens, Assignment, Leases, Communications Service Contracts"
---

# §3957. Protection of life insurance policy

- (a) **Assignment of policy protected—** If a life insurance policy on the life of a [servicemember](/usc/50/3911.md?p=1) is assigned before [military service](/usc/50/3911.md?p=2) to secure the payment of an obligation, the assignee of the policy (except the insurer in connection with a policy loan) may not exercise, during a [period of military service](/usc/50/3911.md?p=3) of the [servicemember](/usc/50/3911.md?p=1) or within one year thereafter, any right or option obtained under the assignment without a [court](/usc/50/3911.md?p=5) order.
- (b) **Exception—** The prohibition in [subsection (a)](#a) shall not apply—
  - (1) if the assignee has the written consent of the insured made during the period described in [subsection (a)](#a);
  - (2) when the premiums on the policy are due and unpaid; or
  - (3) upon the death of the insured.
- (c) **Order refused because of material affect—** A [court](/usc/50/3911.md?p=5) which receives an application for an order required under [subsection (a)](#a) may refuse to grant such order if the [court](/usc/50/3911.md?p=5) determines the ability of the [servicemember](/usc/50/3911.md?p=1) to comply with the terms of the obligation is materially affected by [military service](/usc/50/3911.md?p=2).
- (d) **Treatment of guaranteed premiums—** For purposes of this subsection, premiums guaranteed under the provisions of subchapter IV of this chapter shall not be considered due and unpaid.
- (e) **Misdemeanor—** A person who knowingly takes an action contrary to this section, or attempts to do so, shall be fined as provided in [title 18](/usc/18.md), or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

## Source credit

(Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 888, title III, § 306, as added Pub. L. 108–189, § 1, Dec. 19, 2003, 117 Stat. 2850; amended Pub. L. 111–275, title III, § 303(b)(6), Oct. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 2878.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 536 of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 306 of act Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 888, art. III, as added Oct. 6, 1942, ch. 581, § 12, 56 Stat. 773, related to extension of benefits to dependents, prior to the general amendment of this Act by Pub. L. 108–189. See section 3959 of this title.

### Amendments

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

### 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.