Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Timeline

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) – Timeline of Key Laws & Amendments

This page tracks the history of servicemember legal protections, beginning with the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940, leading to the modern SCRA, and listing major amendments.

Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act (SSCRA, 1940)

  • Original version of the law, designed to protect servicemembers during WWII.
  • Capped interest rates at 6% on pre-service debts.
  • Allowed courts to stay civil proceedings during active duty.
  • Provided protections against default judgments, eviction, and foreclosure.

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA, 2003)

  • Pub. L. 108–189 repealed and replaced SSCRA.
  • Updated and strengthened protections for the modern force.
  • Codified at 50 U.S.C. §§ 3901–4043.
  • Expanded rights in leases, contracts, foreclosure, and interest rate reductions.

Amendments and Expansions

  • 2004, 2008, 2010 – Technical and enforcement updates. Extended foreclosure protections during active duty and for a post-service grace period.
  • 2012 (Pub. L. 112–154, Honoring America’s Veterans Act) – Extended foreclosure protection to surviving spouses.
  • 2015 (Pub. L. 114–92, NDAA) – Made permanent the 6% interest cap on pre-service loans.
  • 2018 (Pub. L. 115–407, Veterans Benefits and Transition Act) – Allowed termination of phone, internet, and TV contracts without penalty when deploying.
  • 2022 (Pub. L. 117–314, NDAA) – Strengthened eviction protections, updated consumer contract termination rules, and improved enforcement tools.

Why It Matters Today

The SCRA remains a living law that continues to expand. It is frequently amended through the National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAAs) and other legislation.

Servicemembers today rely on SCRA protections for:

  • Eviction and foreclosure relief
  • Lease and contract termination (housing, auto, telecom)
  • Interest rate reductions on pre-service loans
  • Protection against default judgments
  • Legal safeguards for families of deployed or deceased servicemembers

Official Sources