The term service member means a member of the uniformed services, consisting of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard), the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Services.

A Service members Civil Relief Act affidavit is a document litigants can take to court to prove they have checked to see if the defendant in their case is on active military duty. An SCRA affidavit, which most courts require, helps move cases forward so plaintiffs can get restitution more quickly.

Citizens who are working as contractors are not protected by the SCRA.

It covers issues such as rental agreements, security deposits, prepaid rent, evictions, installment contracts, credit card interest rates, mortgage interest rates, mortgage foreclosures, civil judicial proceedings, automobile leases, life insurance, health insurance and income tax payments.

Technically, a military affidavit is a court document that legally determines someone's active-duty status. This form will typically contain information such as name and date of birth. It also has a section confirming or denying active-duty status.

The SCRA covers all active duty service members, reservists and the members of the National Guard while on active duty. The protection begins on the date of entering active duty and generally terminates within 30 to 90 days after discharge.

The SCRA enables servicemembers to devote their time and attention to the defense needs of the Nation by providing protections related to such things as rental agreements, security deposits, prepaid rent, evictions, installment contracts, credit card interest rates, automobile repossessions, mortgage interest rates,

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act provides financial and legal protections for active-duty service members, including National Guard and reserve members, and their families.