---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 U.S.C. § 3959"
title: "50"
title_heading: "War and National Defense"
number: "3959"
heading: "Extension of protections to dependents"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/50/3959"
units:
  - "Chapter 50 — Servicemembers Civil Relief"
  - "Subchapter III — Rent, Installment Contracts, Mortgages, Liens, Assignment, Leases, Communications Service Contracts"
---

# §3959. Extension of protections to dependents


Upon application to a [court](/usc/50/3911.md?p=5), a [dependent](/usc/50/3911.md?p=4) of a [servicemember](/usc/50/3911.md?p=1) is entitled to the protections of this subchapter if the [dependent](/usc/50/3911.md?p=4)’s ability to comply with a lease, contract, bailment, or other obligation is materially affected by reason of the [servicemember](/usc/50/3911.md?p=1)’s [military service](/usc/50/3911.md?p=2).


## Source credit

(Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 888, title III, § 308, as added Pub. L. 108–189, § 1, Dec. 19, 2003, 117 Stat. 2851.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 538 of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### 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.