When individuals are away on active military duty, it is understandable that they cannot always stay up to date on their obligations back home. Because these brave men and women are making such a tremendous sacrifice for their country, there are laws in place to provide them some breathing room should they fall behind on their debts.
If you are a service member and in need of debt relief, you should be aware of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Signed into law in 2003, it was designed to provide active military members with protection from debt and court actions. Often this means that an active service member does not have to worry about debt penalties while they are away serving their country.
Bakersfield bankruptcy attorney provides debt relief for military
The SCRA covers members of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard. Additionally, it covers members of the National Guard who are on active duty responding to a national emergency for more than 30 consecutive days.
Although the SCRA does not make anyone immune to paying back their debts, it does offer service members a great deal of relief on deadlines and penalties. For instance, the law assists active service members with real estate and vehicle leases, and generally prevents them from being evicted or having their property repossessed. Should service members have default judgments entered against them, the SCRA allows the court to reopen the case when they return home.
This important law offers some protection to military members, but these individuals should still know their rights — as not all types of debt are covered and the relief does eventually expire. If you have questions about the SCRA or need assistance with debt relief or other types of bankruptcy issues, call Max Gardner an experienced Bakersfield bankruptcy attorney at 661-888-4335
