DCL-04-26, The Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act, replaces the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940.

DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER

DCL-04-26

ATTACHMENT: Provisions in the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) that Affect Child Support Enforcement
The Commonweath of Virginia’s Best Practice (Revised July 7, 2004)

DATE: June 18, 2004

TO: ALL STATE IV-D DIRECTORS

RE: The Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act, replaces the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940.

Dear Colleague:

On December 19, 2003, the President signed into law the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), Pub. L. 108-189. This new law amends and renames the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act (SSCRA) of 1940. This letter is to inform the child support enforcement community of changes in the new law that affect child support enforcement (attached) and also to highlight how the old law was changed. The SCRA applies to child support enforcement case that are not final before December 19, 2003, the date of enactment of this Act.

Included with this letter is a “Best Practice” document prepared by the Commonwealth of Virginia. This document may be helpful for working child support cases involving military personnel.

Other provisions of the newly enacted SCRA may be of interest to the child support community and I urge your careful review of the entire Act as a means of addressing any issues or concerns regarding the law. A summary of the new law can be found at: http://www.house.gov/chrissmith/laws/Civil_Relief.htm. Questions may be referred either to Larry R. Holtz, Court and Military Liaison, at (202) 401-5376 (lholtz@acf.hhs.gov) or to Sheck Chin, Special Assistant to the Director of Policy, at (202) 260-5830 (schin@acf.hhs.gov).

Sincerely,

Sherri Z. Heller, Ed.D.
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement

cc: ACF Regional Administrators
ACF Regional Program Managers