Cal. Civ. Code § 9
Stay of proceedings
Operative Text
Section 9. In an action of summary process to recover possession of premises occupied for dwelling purposes, other than a room in a hotel, or a dwelling unit in a lodging house or rooming house wherein the occupant has maintained such occupancy for less than three consecutive months, where a tenancy has been terminated without fault of the tenant, either by operation of law or by act of the landlord, except by a notice to quit for nonpayment of rent as provided in section twelve of chapter one hundred and eighty-six, a stay or stays of judgment and execution may be granted, as hereinafter provided, for a period not exceeding six months or for periods not exceeding six months in the aggregate, or, for a period not exceeding twelve months or for periods not exceeding twelve months in the aggregate in the case of premises occupied by a handicapped person or an individual sixty years of age or older, as the court may deem just and reasonable, upon application of the tenant or the surviving spouse, parent or child of a deceased tenant if such spouse, parent or child occupied said premises for dwelling purposes at the time when said tenancy was terminated and such occupancy was not in violation of the terms of the tenancy; provided, however, that a stay or stays of judgment and execution in the case of premises occupied by an employee of a farmer conditioned upon his employment by such farmer and which employment has been legally terminated shall not be granted for a period exceeding two months or for periods exceeding two months in the aggregate. For the purpose of this section, the words ''handicapped person'' shall mean a person who: (a) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits such person's ability to care for himself, perform manual tasks, walk, see, hear, speak, breathe, learn or work; or (b) has a physical or mental impairment which significantly limits the housing appropriate for such person or which significantly limits such person's ability to seek new housing; or (c) would be eligible for housing for handicapped persons under the provisions of chapter one hundred and twenty-one B.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 239, Section 9 allows a court to delay the enforcement of an eviction judgment when a tenancy ends through no fault of the tenant — such as by operation of law or a landlord's action — rather than for nonpayment of rent. The delay can last up to six months in total, or up to twelve months when the occupant is a person with a qualifying disability or is sixty years of age or older. A surviving spouse, parent, or child of a deceased tenant may also apply for this protection if they lived in the unit when the tenancy ended.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mass. Gen. Laws c. 239, Section 9, when a landlord terminates a tenancy without fault on the tenant's part, a court may postpone enforcement of any eviction judgment for up to six months — or up to twelve months if the occupant qualifies as handicapped or is at least sixty years old. Operators generally account for these potential delays when planning unit turnover timelines in no-fault eviction scenarios. Maintaining clear documentation of the termination basis and any occupant characteristics relevant to the statute helps support an accurate court record.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 239, Section 9 gives tenants — and certain family members of a deceased tenant — the right to ask a court for extra time before an eviction is carried out, when the tenancy ended through no fault of the tenant. Qualifying tenants may be eligible for up to six months of delay, while those who are disabled or sixty or older may seek up to twelve months. Tenants can raise this right by filing an application with the court handling the summary process case, and tenant-rights organizations can help explain what documentation or steps are generally involved.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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