Military Status Verification for SCRA Compliance – Verify Active Duty Status Online
Military status verification is a required step for lenders, landlords, and legal professionals to determine whether an individual is currently serving on active duty under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). This verification ensures compliance with federal law and prevents unlawful actions such as default judgments, foreclosures, or evictions against protected servicemembers.
Military Status Verification
Courts require a valid military status verification under 50 U.S.C. § 3931 before entering any default judgment. This process determines whether an individual is eligible for SCRA protections.
Plaintiffs conduct military status verifications to determine if a person is on active military duty. Courts require these verifications in connection with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The SCRA affords certain protections to people who are
- On active military duty
- Called up for military duty, or
- Recently retired.
The Court wants to know if the person being sued is entitled to those protections or not.
The goal of the SCRA is to allow the men and women serving their country to do so without worries of default judgments, evictions, foreclosures or some other legal actions. The SCRA requires plaintiffs to conduct military status verifications in certain situations to ensure the protection of the servicemembers’ rights.
Before a court will enter a default judgment, the judge will almost always require that the plaintiff (the lender, landlord, or whoever is trying to get a judgment) submit a military affidavit. Other names for military affidavits include
- Nonmilitary affidavits
- Affidavits of military service or
- Affidavits in compliance with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
In an affidavit, the plaintiff swears they have done a military status verification showing whether the individual is on active military duty.
Why Accurate Military Verification Is Essential for SCRA Compliance?
The plaintiff must be thorough when completing a military affidavit. The SCRA is a federal statute with strict requirements and severe penalties, so submitting an affidavit without properly verifying military status can place the filer in violation of federal law.
How Courts Evaluate Military Affidavits
Courts typically require the affidavit—and the verification behind it—to be dispositive. Judges generally expect a clear yes-or-no answer regarding military status and will not accept ambiguous language, conditional statements, or disclaimers.
Why Affidavits Without Full Data Get Rejected
Judges may reject affidavits stating that results “cannot be guaranteed” due to missing information, such as a Social Security number. This is one of the primary reasons SCRACVS is preferred over the DMDC when the SSN is unavailable.
Why SCRACVS Is the One-Stop Verification Solution
SCRACVS can complete SCRA verifications even without a Social Security number and provides court-ready, notarized affidavits. This makes SCRACVS the most reliable option for plaintiffs who need compliant, dispositive results.
Comparing the DMDC with SCRACVS
Experienced lenders, servicers, attorneys, debt collectors, and business owners use the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Centralized Verification Service (SCRACVS). It’s a one-stop resource for securing military status verifications. The SCRACVS, based in Washington, D.C., accesses the United States Department of Defense DMDC SEERS database. We can usually perform SCRA military status verifications even if the Social Security number is unavailable.
Read Detailed DMDC vs SCRACVS Comparison|
Feature |
SCRACVS |
DMDC |
|---|---|---|
|
Social Security Number Required |
Not required |
Required |
|
Turnaround Time |
Within 24 hours |
Variable |
|
Affidavit Preparation |
Yes, notarized |
No |
|
User Support |
Live chat and phone |
No |
|
Court-Ready Results |
Yes |
No guarantee |
The SCRACVS connects directly to the Department of Defense’s DMDC SEERS database, providing verified, formatted, and court-acceptable results, even when partial data (such as missing SSNs) is available, making it the preferred choice for legal and business professionals.
Who Uses Military Status Verification Services?
Military status verification is required whenever a plaintiff or business needs to determine if a person is entitled to Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act protections. Courts rely on this information to decide whether active duty status affects the plaintiff’s ability to proceed.
These checks help prevent improper default judgments, ensure SCRA compliance, and protect the rights of service members across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, the National Guard, and the Public Health Service or Atmospheric Administration.
1. Lenders and Servicers
Financial institutions verify a borrower’s military status before filing civil actions tied to collections, repossessions, or foreclosure. Because an active duty defendant may have a meritorious defense, courts expect plaintiffs to submit a clear military affidavit that reflects an accurate SCRA military search. This ensures the lender does not violate the statute while pursuing a lawful judgment.
2. Landlords and Property Managers
Landlords confirm whether a tenant is on active duty before attempting eviction. Under SCRA § 3951, certain protections apply when a service member or eligible dependents are involved. Verification ensures the property owner does not proceed improperly in civil proceedings, especially when a default judgment or rental action could affect the tenant’s rights.
3. Attorneys and Debt Collectors
Attorneys, collection firms, and background screening companies rely on accurate military status checks to avoid filing defective affidavits. Courts may reject or sanction filings that fail to verify whether a defendant is protected by the civil relief act SCRA. A proper search, including a social security number when available, prevents violation of federal law and avoids case delays.
4. Employers and Background Check Services
Some employers perform military status verifications when military service affects employment obligations or statutory benefits. These checks help confirm whether a worker or applicant is called to duty, recently separated, or currently protected under SCRA. Accurate information allows employers to maintain proper compliance while handling personnel matters.
5. Pursuing Debt Collection or Default Judgments
Verification is required before taking steps toward a default judgment. Courts need a dispositive affidavit confirming the defendant’s active duty status to ensure SCRA’s protections are not ignored. Without this confirmation, the judge may deny the request or require additional documentation.
6. Terminating a Lease or Rental Agreement
When ending a lease, landlords must determine whether the tenant is protected by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. A military status check ensures the plaintiff is not unlawfully attempting to proceed against a person who may be entitled to added time or relief under the statute.
7. Foreclosing on a Mortgage or Property
Before filing a foreclosure action, lenders must verify if the homeowner is on active duty. SCRA restricts certain foreclosure actions unless specific conditions are met. A valid SCRA search, including DMDC or SCRA single record confirmation, helps lenders comply with federal requirements.
8. Repossessing a Vehicle
Vehicle repossession often triggers SCRA review because automotive leases and installment contracts fall under the act. Plaintiffs must perform a military status check before repossession to protect the rights of servicemembers who may be unable to respond due to military obligations.
How to Request a Military Status Verification?
A military status request provides the court with a clear determination of a person’s active duty status under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Plaintiffs use these verifications to comply with federal requirements before filing civil proceedings, pursuing a default judgment, or preparing a military affidavit for submission.
1. Create an Account
Visit servicememberscivilreliefact.com/register to open an account and begin your SCRA search. This establishes the information needed to perform an official verification tied to the Department of Defense DMDC SCRA database.
2. Provide Required Identifiers
Enter the person’s full name, date of birth, and any available identifiers, including a social security number when accessible. These details allow the system to accurately determine whether the individual is on active duty across any branch of the military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or qualifying uniformed services.
3. System Performs the Verification
The SCRACVS system conducts an official DMDC-backed SCRA military search. This process verifies whether the defendant is currently serving, recently called to duty, or otherwise protected under SCRA. Accurate results help prevent errors, delays, or violations of the statute.
4. Receive Results Within 24 Hours
Verification results are delivered by email within 24 hours. Plaintiffs receive a definitive yes or no active duty determination, which supports proper filing in civil actions and protects the rights of service members under federal law. Optional notarized affidavits are also available.
5. Download the Affidavit or Certificate
Once complete, users can download the affidavit, declaration, or verification certificate for use in court or recordkeeping. These documents help ensure compliance with the statute and allow the judge to proceed without requiring additional proof.
frequently asked questions
Military status identifies whether a person is on active duty, recently called to duty, or within the protected post-service period defined under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Courts use this determination to decide whether SCRA protections apply in civil proceedings, including foreclosure, eviction, repossession, or a request for a default judgment. A verified status helps the plaintiff comply with federal requirements before submitting a military affidavit.
SCRACVS provides court-ready proof of military service through an official SCRA military search supported by the DMDC. The system can verify status even when the social security number is unavailable, providing an accurate active duty determination for use in civil actions, collections, or other filings that require SCRA compliance.
Only limited information about service members is publicly available. Complete personnel files are restricted under the Privacy Act and cannot be accessed without proper authorization. SCRACVS verifies without exposing sensitive identifiers, and all results redact protected data such as birth dates and SSNs while still confirming active duty status for court use.
Yes. Verified military status results can be accessed online after registering at ServicemembersCivilReliefAct.com. This allows plaintiffs and attorneys to obtain an official DMDC SCRA response for use in affidavits, filings, and other civil proceedings where SCRA compliance is required.
Submit a request through SCRACVS to perform an official military status check. The system conducts a DMDC-backed search and provides a dispositive yes or no answer regarding active duty. This verification is required before filing a military affidavit or requesting a default judgment, ensuring full compliance with the Civil Relief Act SCRA.
