Source: https://www.militarydivorce.net/Articles/Protecting-Military-Families-The-New-Servicemembers-Civil-Relief-Act.shtml
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 23:51:16+00:00

Document:
On December 19, 2003, President Bush signed Pub. L. No. §108-189, making major amendments to the former Soldier's and Sailor's Civil Relief Act (SSCRA, 50 U.S.C. App. §501-594(2000). The new law is called the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and contains renumbered sections from 101-704. The new legislation is largely based upon a Department of Defense Draft Revision completed in 1991 after the first Gulf War, and updated in 1992 and 2003. According to the Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Army, Legal Assistance Policy Division, the goals of the draft were to make the act easier to read and understand, incorporate into the act many years of judicial interpretation, and to update the act to take into account generally accepted legal practices and new developments in American life. Many of the new sections of the law clarify areas of disagreement among military law experts and make case law interpreting the former SSCRA moot. The new law significantly strengthens the former SSCRA and for the benefit of both the active duty member and his or her dependents.
8) Provides health insurance cancellation protection requiring reinstatement without penalty upon release from active duty without exclusions or waiting periods (§704).
The SCRA applies to each of the 50 states and subdivisions thereof and to all territories subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. (§102) The act applies to any judicial or administrative proceeding commenced in any court or agency. Criminal proceedings are not covered.
If the defendant is a "servicemember," i.e., is on active military service, the court may not enter judgment until it appoints an attorney to represent the defendant. (§201(a)(2)) The court-appointed attorney must attempt to locate and communicate with the defendant. If the court-appointed attorney cannot locate the defendant, the actions of the attorney in the case do not waive any defense of the servicemember or otherwise bind the servicemember.
This provision is a significant strengthening of the act, by requiring a mandatory 90-day stay if the requirements of the statute are met.
2) A letter or other communication from the servicemember's commanding officer stating that the servicemember's current military duty prevents appearance and that military leave is not authorized for the servicemember at the time of the letter.
In family law proceedings involving support issues, one should not assume that the court will grant a stay or delay of court proceedings simply because the defendant is on active military service. In the modern world, testimony can be presented by videotape, telephonic depositions, or over the telephone. When the issue is temporary child support and alimony, the needed information is primarily financial in nature. Military pay is a matter of public record. The military pay tables are available at www.dfas.mil, the Web site of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. Thus, it is difficult to see how a stay would be needed or appropriate in most family matters requesting temporary relief. In Massey v. Kim, 455 S.E. 2d 306 (Ga. Ct. App. 1995), the servicemember asked for a delay until the end of his overseas tour. The court denied the request, pointing out improvements in modern communication since the passage of the SSCRA. Similarly, in Keefe v. Spangeenberg, 533 F. Supp. 49 (W.D. Okla. 1981), the court denied the servicemember's request for a delay, pointing out that the member could appear by videotape under the federal rules of civil procedure. Also, if temporary relief is requested, these hearings do not result in final orders; they merely serve to support the family pending the entry of a final judgment and as such, do not prejudice the servicemember's rights. Shelor v. Shelor, 383 S.E. 2d 895 (Ga. 1989). Last, the Welfare Reform Act of 1996 requires that the armed forces issue regulations to grant leave for servicemember's to appear in court and administrative paternity and child support hearings. DOD Directive 1327.5, Leave and Liberty (IO 4, 10 Sept. 1997).
When one stay of proceedings is insufficient, the servicemember may apply for an additional stay based upon continuing material effect of military duty upon the servicemember's ability to appear. Such an application may be made at the time of the initial application for stay or at a later time when it appears that the servicemember will be unable to appear after the first 90-day stay. A second application must contain the same facts and information as required by law in the first application.
If the court in its discretion refuses the additional stay, the court shall appoint counsel to represent the servicemember in the action or proceeding. Under §206 of the SCRA, the statute of limitations is tolled during the period of the servicemember's military service for the bringing of any action or proceeding in a court, board, bureau, commission, or department of a state or political subdivision of a state or the U.S. by or against the servicemember or his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns.
Under §207 of the SCRA, an obligation or liability incurred by the servicemember or by the servicemember and his or her spouse jointly before the servicemember's entry onto active military service, shall not bear interest at a rate in excess of six percent during the period of military service. Any interest that would have been incurred is automatically forgiven by law. Payments are to be reduced accordingly. However, the servicemember, to take advantage of the act, must, within 180 days of termination or release from active military service, provide written notice and a copy of his military orders to the creditor. A court may grant a creditor relief from the interest rate limitation if, in the opinion of the court, the servicemember's ability to pay the contractual interest is not materially affected by reason of the member's military service. The term "interest" is defined to include renewal charges, service charges, and any other charges (except bona fide insurance) with respect to the obligation.
Under §301 of the SCRA, a landlord, except by court order, may not evict or subject premises to distress of a servicemember or the dependents of a servicemember during a period of military service from premises that are occupied or intended to be occupied primarily as a residence and for which the monthly rent does not exceed $2400, as adjusted year to year by the Consumer Price Index.
Under §301(c) it is a misdemeanor to knowingly take part in an eviction or distress action against a servicemember. Other civil remedies are preserved to the servicemember.
A person who knowingly resumes or attempts to resume possession of property in violation of the law is guilty of a misdemeanor. (§302 (b)) All other remedies the servicemember may have are preserved by law.
Under §303 of the act, a servicemember is afforded protection with respect to real or personal property owned by a servicemember with respect to a contract that originated before military service commenced and for which the servicemember is still liable and which is secured by a mortgage, trust deed, or other security in the nature of a mortgage. In an action filed during, or within 90 days after, a servicemember's period of military service to enforce an obligation secured by a mortgage, the court may on its own motion and shall, on motion of the servicemember, stay the proceedings for the period of time required by justice upon a finding that the servicemember's military service has materially affected his/her ability to comply with the obligation or the court may adjust the obligation to preserve the interests of all concerned. Further, a sale, foreclosure, or seizure of property for breach shall not be valid if made during a period of military service or within 90 days thereafter except upon a court order granted before such sale, foreclosure, or seizure with a return made and approved by the court or if made pursuant to a valid agreement.
A person who knowingly makes or causes to be made a sale, foreclosure, or seizure as provided in the law commits a misdemeanor. (§303(c)) All other remedies the servicemember may have are preserved by law.
2) The servicemember, while in military service, executed the lease and thereafter received military orders for a permanent change of station or to deploy with a military unit for a period of not less than 90 days.
2) The servicemember, while in military service, executes the lease and thereafter receives military orders for a permanent change of station outside of the continental U.S. or to deploy with a military unit for a period of not less than 180 days.
Under §305(c) of the law, the servicemember may terminate leases, in general, by hand delivery or delivery by certified mail, return receipt requested of a written notice of termination, along with a copy of his/her military orders to the lessor, and return to the lessor of the motor vehicle by the servicemember. With respect to premises, the lease termination is effective 30 days after the first date on which the next rental payment is due and payable after the date the notice of termination is delivered. With respect to motor vehicles, the lease is terminated, in general, on the date the written notice and delivery of the motor vehicle is accomplished. The lessor may charge, on a prorated basis, rents or lease amounts accruing before the lease termination but may not impose an early termination charge. Reasonable excess wear, use, and mileage charges are permitted.
Under §307 of the act, a person holding a lien on the property or effects of a servicemember may not, during any period of military service of the servicemember and for 90 days thereafter, foreclose or enforce any lien on such property without a court order. A "lien" includes a lien for storage, repair, or cleaning, or for any other reason.
2) Adjust the obligation to preserve the interests of all parties.
As in other pertinent sections, it is a misdemeanor offense to knowingly violate this section, and all civil remedies are preserved to the servicemember. See §307(c)(1)and (2).
Upon application to the court, a dependent of a servicemember is entitled to the protections of the act if the dependent's ability to comply with a lease, contract, bailment, or other obligation is materially affected by reason of the servicemember's military service. Previous case law excluding dependents from the protection of the act may no longer be valid, in appropriate cases.
Changing the law, the new SCRA provides that a legal representative for a servicemember under the act is either an attorney acting on behalf of a servicemember or an individual possessing a power of attorney. All references in the act to servicemember are to be treated as including a reference to a legal representative of a servicemember. A legal representative can take the same actions as the servicemember himself and can bind the servicemember, thus changing the previous statute found at 50 U.S.C. Appx. 520(3).
The new law significantly enhances protections for the servicemember in the areas of court and administrative proceedings in all states and territories and federal proceedings. The act should be reviewed by all family law practitioners representing individuals on active military service and by all attorneys representing banks, mortgage companies, institutional lenders, and the like. The judiciary is given the ultimate discretion to balance the needs of the servicemember and his or her family against the legitimate claims of creditors. The criminal and civil penalties provided by the act for knowing violations of its provisions should be sufficient to ensure compliance with its provisions and provide stability at home for the servicemember and his other dependents serving here or abroad.
Peter Cushing is a graduate of Syracuse University College of Law and a board certified marital and family attorney. He is a member of the Florida, New York, and Hawaii bars and a captain, Judge Advocate General's Corps, USNR, retired. He has practiced family law in Orlando since 1984.
This column is submitted on behalf of the Family Law Section, Evan R. Marks, chair, and Kristen Adamson-Landau, editor.

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