Which of the following is NOT part of the foreclosure process?

The automatic stay is a legal provision that temporarily halts actions against a debtor, including foreclosure proceedings. It is typically associated with bankruptcy cases, where a debtor files for bankruptcy protection, invoking the automatic stay to stop creditors from enforcing collection actions. In the context of foreclosure, once a property owner enters bankruptcy, they can benefit from the automatic stay, which limits the lender’s ability to proceed with the foreclosure process until the bankruptcy case is resolved.

On the other hand, final judgment, conduct of sale, and certification of sale are integral steps in the foreclosure process itself. The final judgment represents the court's decision to approve the foreclosure, while the conduct of sale refers to the execution of the foreclosure sale, where the property is sold, often at an auction. The certification of sale is the formal documentation confirming that the property has been sold.

Each of these steps is directly tied to the foreclosure procedure and occurs after the process has been initiated, making them essential elements of the foreclosure timeline. In contrast, the automatic stay is not a part of the foreclosure process but rather a protective legal measure relevant in the context of bankruptcy.