Specialized Situation
Military Servicemember Assistance (SCRA)
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act provides meaningful mortgage protections, including an interest-rate cap on pre-service obligations and limits on foreclosure without a court order during and shortly after military service. These protections must be invoked with documentation.
Protections for active-duty servicemembers and their families
What you need to know
- The SCRA generally caps interest at six percent on obligations incurred before active duty began, upon written request with a copy of orders.
- For loans originating before active-duty service, foreclosure generally requires a court order or waiver during service and for a statutory period afterward.
- The origination date relative to your service start date is the decisive fact. Establish it first.
- Requests should go to the servicer in writing with orders attached, and a copy should go to the trustee if a sale is calendared.
- Military legal assistance and JAG offices provide no-cost help and should be engaged in parallel.