If you’re pursuing an eviction and the tenant fails to respond or appear in court, Florida law allows you to seek a default judgment—but only after you confirm that the tenant is not an active-duty military member.
This is a critical step in the eviction process, and many landlords are caught off guard by the requirement. Failing to properly confirm and disclose the tenant’s military status can result in delays, denied default judgments, or even sanctions under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).
⚖️ Why Military Status Matters in Eviction Cases
Under the SCRA, tenants who are active-duty servicemembers are entitled to special protections in legal proceedings—including eviction. Before a court can enter a default judgment, the landlord must submit either:
- A Department of Defense (DOD) Manpower Data Center (DMDC) Military Status Report, or
- A signed affidavit of non-military service, based on reliable information.
Without one of these, the court cannot legally enter a default judgment against the tenant—even if they’ve failed to respond.
📄 The Easiest Way: DOD Manpower Report
The DOD Manpower Data Center (DMDC) provides a free online verification tool that allows landlords to confirm whether someone is currently serving in the U.S. armed forces.
✅ This is the fastest and most accepted method to satisfy the military status requirement.
🔑 What You Need to Obtain the DOD Report:
To use the DMDC system, you must provide at least one of the following:
- Tenant’s full Social Security Number (SSN)
- Tenant’s full date of birth (DOB)
If you do not have either, the system will not return a verified result—and you’ll be forced to rely on a sworn affidavit, which may delay your eviction case.
📝 Best Practice: Collect ID and SSNs at Lease Signing
Because military status verification is often needed months or years after a tenant moves in, it’s important to plan ahead. We recommend that landlords:
✅ Obtain a copy of each adult tenant’s government-issued ID (such as a driver’s license)
✅ Request the tenant’s full SSN or DOB as part of the rental application or lease process
✅ Retain this information securely in your tenant file
This small step at the beginning of the tenancy can save you significant time and frustration later, especially when seeking a default judgment for eviction.
📂 What to Do If You Didn’t Collect the Info
If you didn’t obtain the tenant’s date of birth or SSN at move-in, you may still be able to:
- Check the lease or rental application to see if DOB or SSN was included
- Use a credit report (with tenant authorization) to retrieve identifying info
- If unable to obtain a DOD report, submit a detailed affidavit of non-military service, explaining the basis of your belief
⚠ Important: Affidavits based on mere assumptions or incomplete information may be rejected by the Court.
🏁 Summary: Don’t Let This Step Delay Your Eviction
Before a Florida landlord can obtain a default judgment for possession, you must confirm that the tenant is not on active military duty. The DOD Manpower Report is the preferred way to do this—but you need the tenant’s date of birth or SSN to run the search.
🔒 Make it part of your leasing process to collect and securely store this information from all adult tenants. It’s a simple step that can prevent costly delays and help ensure that your eviction case proceeds without avoidable obstacles.
📞 Need Help With an Eviction?
Our firm represents landlords across Florida and handles evictions from start to finish—including default judgment filings and compliance with military status verification.
📌 Contact us today to make sure your case is done right—and done efficiently.