During this time of uncertainty UTA will post links on its website to enable you to stay current on the latest information on court closings and shelter-in-place orders from local governments. Because the situation is fluid and unprecedented, if you are unsure about whether a particular court house is open or whether a hearing will proceed at a certain date and time, you should contact your attorney, or if you are unrepresented, the courtroom deputy for the department in which you are scheduled to appear.
Seven Bay Area Counties have enacted a shelter-in-place policy for the next three weeks. The counties are San Francisco, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa and Alameda counties. The City of Berkeley, which has its own health department, is also participating. The shelter in place order begins at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday March 17, 2020 and will be in place until at least April 7. Only essential businesses will remain open. Restaurants must serve only take-out or delivery orders. Hospitals, grocery stores, banks and pharmacies will remain open. (Source San Francisco Chronicle). See sample order, outlining approved activities and essential businesses.
It is expected that other counties or municipalities may enact similar policies in the near future. Once UTA locates a reliable link to a web site that collects data on such announcements a link will be posted to UTA’s website.
Court closings and government emergency declarations in other Western states will be linked to the UTA website once reliable sources collecting the information can be posted.
UTA cannot advise members whether or not to conduct a sale or post property in any area affected by the shelter in place order. Any decision whether to postpone or conduct any sale or post any property should be made in consultation with the beneficiary and reviewed by the trustee’s legal counsel.
Should any state enact a moratorium on either foreclosure sales or evictions, UTA will post that information to the website and circulate another email blast to its members to notify you of any moratoriums enacted by any government agency. Bookmark this page to stay connected to these breaking developments.
- – Read Memo from Fannie Mae (Servicers must suspend all foreclosure sales for the next 60 days. This foreclosure suspension does not apply to mortgage loans on properties that have been determined to be vacant or abandoned.)
- – Read Memo from Freddie Mac (Servicers must suspend all foreclosure sales for the next 60 days. This foreclosure suspension does not apply to Mortgages on properties that have been determined to be vacant or abandoned.)