Military service: legal benefits.

Existing law provides legal benefits, as specified, for service members in regard to credit agreements, court proceedings, interest liabilities, eviction proceedings, contracts, mortgages and trusts, leases, life insurance policies, taxes and assessments, and health insurance policies. Existing law provides that dependents of a service member are entitled to some of the benefits accorded to service members, as specified. This bill would provide that a dependent of a service member is entitled to the benefit that no obligation or liability bearing interest at a rate in excess of 6% per year incurred by the dependent before that service member's entry into service, during any part of the period of military service, bear interest at a rate in excess of 6% per year, unless as provided. Existing law authorizes a service member to apply to the court for relief of an obligation or liability incurred by the service member prior to his or her period of military service or for relief of any tax or assessment whether falling due prior to or during his or her period of military service. Existing law authorizes the court, after notice and hearing, unless in its opinion the ability of the petitioner to comply with the terms of the obligation or liability or to pay the tax or assessment has not been materially affected by reason of his or her military service, to grant specified relief. This bill would clarify that a service member may apply to a court for relief in respect of any obligation or liability incurred by the service member prior to the effective date of the orders for his or her most current period of military service. This bill would also clarify that the court may grant specified relief, unless in its opinion the ability of the petitioner to comply with the terms of the obligation or liability or to pay the tax or assessment has not been materially affected by reason of his or her most current period of military service.