Measure to Extend Post Military Service Protection against Mortgage Foreclosure
(TRENTON) – An Assembly panel advanced legislation on Monday sponsored by Assembly Democrats Vincent Mazzeo and Bob Andrzejczak sponsored to help military families avoid home foreclosure by extending the military post-service protection period for up to one year.
“Returning service men and women deserve an adequate amount of time to readjust to civilian life and find work,” said Mazzeo (D-Atlantic). “This legislation will help keep military families in their homes by giving them time and opportunity to catch up financially.”
Currently, state law protects a person in military service from a sale, foreclosure, or seizure of a person’s property during the person’s period of military service and for three months after, unless an order of sale was granted and approved by the court. This bill (A-3971) would extend the post-service period of protection from mortgage foreclosure form three-months to one year after release or discharge form military service, after the effective date of the bill.
“We enjoy an incomparable freedom and democracy because of the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women on the front lines,” said Andrzejczak (D-Cape May, Atlantic, Cumberland). “When service members return to their home state of New Jersey, they should not have to face the possibility of losing their homes. Our military must have ample time to get back to work and back on a strong financial footing that will enable them to keep their homes.”
A provision of federal law currently provides military service members with comparable protection against mortgage foreclosure for a full year after the period of the service member’s military service. However, the federal law is scheduled to sunset on January 1, 2015, at which time an earlier provision of law, which provided service members a 90-day post-service period of protection form mortgage foreclosure, will be revived.
The bill was released by the Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.