Servicemember Civil Relief Act

Virginia Active Duty Servicemembers Divorce Lawyers

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) was previously known as the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act (SSCRA). The SCRA was enacted in 2003 in order to provide certain protections for individuals entering the military, those on active duty and those who have been deployed.

While all of the provisions in the SCRA can provide protection in a wide spectrum of cases, some of them can be critical elements in protecting the servicemember’s rights during a divorce proceeding. The northern Virginia SCRA divorce lawyers at HALE BALL MURPHY, PLC provide comprehensive family law services to military service members stationed in Virginia and those deployed across the globe.

The civil litigation attorneys of HALE BALL MURPHY, PLC dedicate all their attention to helping clients resolve complex family law matters. No matter what type of issues you may be facing, from divorce or custody to support or property division issues, we will be there to provide the kind of representation you need to be successful.

Key Provisions in the SCRA

The SCRA includes the following provisions that can be utilized to protect the servicemember’s rights during a divorce proceeding:

Allowing the court to set aside or vacate a default judgment: In a custody proceeding, for example, if you were not able to be at the hearing to defend yourself and you were negatively impacted by the default judgment that came about as a result, the court has the authority to reopen the case.

Imposing a stay on a legal proceeding: This can be an especially important provision for deployed servicemembers. If you are unable to appear at a custody hearing or other legal proceeding to defend yourself, it can be stayed or postponed until your return.