---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 U.S.C. § 3958"
title: "50"
title_heading: "War and National Defense"
number: "3958"
heading: "Enforcement of storage liens"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/50/3958"
units:
  - "Chapter 50 — Servicemembers Civil Relief"
  - "Subchapter III — Rent, Installment Contracts, Mortgages, Liens, Assignment, Leases, Communications Service Contracts"
---

# §3958. Enforcement of storage liens

- (a) **Liens—**
  - (1) **Limitation on foreclosure or enforcement—** A person holding a lien on the property or effects of a [servicemember](/usc/50/3911.md?p=1) may not, during any [period of military service](/usc/50/3911.md?p=3) of the [servicemember](/usc/50/3911.md?p=1) and for 90 days thereafter, foreclose or enforce any lien on such property or effects without a [court](/usc/50/3911.md?p=5) order granted before foreclosure or enforcement.
  - (2) **Lien defined—** For the purposes of [paragraph (1)](#a-1), the term “lien” includes a lien for storage, repair, or cleaning of the property or effects of a [servicemember](/usc/50/3911.md?p=1) or a lien on such property or effects for any other reason.
- (b) **Stay of proceedings—** In a proceeding to foreclose or enforce a lien subject to this section, the [court](/usc/50/3911.md?p=5) may on its own motion, and shall if requested by a [servicemember](/usc/50/3911.md?p=1) whose ability to comply with the obligation resulting in the proceeding is materially affected by [military service](/usc/50/3911.md?p=2)—
  - (1) stay the proceeding for a period of time as justice and equity require; or
  - (2) adjust the obligation to preserve the interests of all parties.

  The provisions of this subsection do not affect the scope of [section 3953 of this title](/usc/50/3953.md).

- (c) **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, § 307, as added Pub. L. 108–189, § 1, Dec. 19, 2003, 117 Stat. 2851; amended Pub. L. 111–275, title III, § 303(b)(7), Oct. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 2878.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 537 of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### Amendments

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