735 ILCS 5/15-1501.6

(735 ILCS 5/15-1501.6)

Sec. 15-1501.6. Relief in mortgage foreclosure proceedings for military personnel in military service.

(a) In this Section:

"Military service" means any full-time training or duty, no matter how described under federal or State law, for which a service member is ordered to report by the President, Governor of a state, commonwealth, or territory of the United States, or other appropriate military authority.

"Service member" means a resident of Illinois who is a member of any component of the U.S. Armed Forces or the National Guard of any state, the District of Columbia, a commonwealth, or a territory of the United States.

(b) In an action for foreclosure, a mortgagor who is a service member that has entered military service for a period greater than 29 consecutive days or any member of the mortgagor's family who resides with the mortgagor at the mortgaged premises, if the mortgagor entered into the mortgage agreement before the mortgagor received orders for military service on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, may file a motion for relief and the court shall, if the mortgagor's ability to pay the agreed mortgage payments or to defend the foreclosure proceedings is materially affected by the mortgagor's military service, do one or more of the following:

(1) stay the proceedings for a period of 90 days after the mortgagor returns from military service, unless, in the opinion of the court, justice and equity require a longer or shorter period of time; or

(2) adjust the obligation under the mortgage agreement by reducing the monthly payments for a period lasting up to 90 days after the mortgagor returns from military service and extending the term of the mortgage, provided that the adjustment preserves the interest of all parties to it.

(c) In order to be eligible for the benefits granted to a service member under this Section, a service member or a member of the service member's family who resides with the service member at the mortgaged premises must provide the court and the mortgagee with a copy of the orders calling the service member to military service in excess of 29 consecutive days and of any orders further extending the service member's period of service.

(d) If a stay is granted under this Section, the court may grant the mortgagee such relief as equity may require.

(e) The forms of relief available under this Section shall continue to be available up to 90 days after the completion of the service member's military service.

(f) In addition to any sanction available to the court for violation of a stay or order, a violation of this Section constitutes a civil rights violation under the Illinois Human Rights Act. All proceeds from the collection of any civil penalty imposed pursuant to the Illinois Human Rights Act under this subsection shall be deposited into the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund.

(Source: P.A. 97-913, eff. 1-1-13.)