Certification of Non-Military Service

A Certification of Non-Military Service is a legal document that is required in some divorce cases to protect the rights of military servicemembers. Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), a default judgment cannot be entered against a military servicemember who has not appeared in the case, unless the court first determines that the servicemember is not entitled to the protections of the SCRA. A Certification of Non-Military Service is a sworn statement by the plaintiff spouse or their attorney, attesting that the defendant spouse is not currently serving in the military and is not entitled to the protections of the SCRA. The certification must be based on a diligent search of available records and databases, and must be filed with the court before a default judgment can be entered.