Pauses civil lawsuits brought or continued by a presidential candidate, the President-elect, or the President if the action is filed, begun, or continued within 90 days before a general election. The court must stay the case until the person’s presidential term ends, or if a candidate is not elected, until the election results are certified/ratified. The stay also applies to the President’s spouse and children and to businesses or entities that list the President or an immediate family member as a grantor or beneficiary. While a stay is in effect, statutory deadlines are tolled and resume when the stay ends. The law explicitly preserves the President’s and federal agencies’ ability to bring or defend civil cases on behalf of the United States.