1
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
Questions and Answers for Servicemembers
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), formerly known as the Soldiers’ and Sailors’
Civil Relief Act (SSCRA), is a federal law that provides protections to individuals in military service.
The law’s purpose is to postpone, suspend, terminate, or reduce the amount of certain civil
obligations so that members of the armed forces and certain other individuals can focus their full
attention on their military or professional responsibilities without adverse consequences for
themselves or their families. This document provides an overview of the protections under the
SCRA. To find more information about the SCRA and other laws that protect the rights of
servicemembers, visit
www.servicemembers.gov.
Q: What is the SCRA?
A: The SCRA, enacted in 2003 and amended several times since then, revised and expanded the
Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940, a law designed to ease financial burdens on
servicemembers during periods of military service. The SCRA enables servicemembers to devote
their time and attention to the defense needs of the Nation by providing protections related to such
things as rental agreements, security deposits, prepaid rent, evictions, installment contracts, credit
card interest rates, automobile repossessions, mortgage interest rates, mortgage foreclosures, civil
judicial proceedings, automobile leases, life insurance, health insurance and income tax payments.
Q: Does the SCRA protect me?
A: The SCRA protects you during periods of military service and, in certain instances, for a period of
time after your military service has ended. If you are a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force,
Marine Corps, or Coast Guard who is on active duty status, or who is absent from duty as a result of
being wounded or being granted leave, you are protected by the SCRA. You are also protected by the
SCRA if you are a member of the National Guard and you received a specific type of activation
orders. Finally, the SCRA protects you if you are an active service commissioned officer of the
Public Health Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. If you have
questions about whether you are covered under the SCRA, contact your nearest Armed Forces Legal
Assistance Program office. You can find the nearest location at
http://legalassistance.law.af.mil/content/locator.php.
If you fall into one of the above categories, the SCRA may also afford certain protections to your
dependents, including your spouse, your children, and any individual for whom you provided more
than one-half of his or her financial support for the past180 days. However, the SCRA does not
protect you or your dependents if you are a civilian or a contractor.
Q: How does the SCRA protect my home from foreclosure?
A: If you obtained a mortgage before you entered into military service, then the SCRA requires that
your lender get a court order before it can foreclose on your home during any period of military
service and for nine months thereafter. The lender must get a court order even in states that generally
allow foreclosures without a court order. If your lender seeks such a court order, and you can show
that you have been unable to meet your financial obligation because of your military service, the
court must temporarily stay the proceedings or adjust the amount of your obligation to the lender.