If a plaintiff or a defendant in any civil action, as described in Title 25, chapter 1, part 1, is a service member, the court may stay the proceedings if the service member or other person on the service member's behalf makes a request in writing to the court, unless the court determines on the record that the ability of the service member to pursue an action as a plaintiff or to conduct the defense as a defendant is not materially affected by the service member's military service.
§ 10-1-904, MCA