LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES
The Legal Office provides legal services and advice absolutely free to all active duty personnel and their dependents along with Reservists and Guardsmen on federal active duty and their dependents. In addition, retired personnel, their dependents, and dependent survivors may also receive legal assistance to the extent personnel and facilities are available.
Air Force attorneys and paralegals can assist eligible personnel with wills, powers of attorney, notary service, or advice on personal civil legal matters such as adoption, domestic relations, landlord-tenant issues (for tenants only), tax assistance, and consumer law questions. Legal assistance officers are licensed attorneys who are assigned by the Air Force to advise and counsel members on personal legal problems.
Limitations on Legal Assistance
The Legal Assistance Program offers counseling for personal civil matters only. Legal assistance officers cannot represent clients in court, prepare or file documents with a court, nor can they advise persons who have hired a civilian attorney on the same subject matter. They cannot advise about criminal matters, or Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) related offenses, (active duty members with these issues should contact the Area Defense Counsel Office) nor can they assist someone to avoid paying a debt or advise someone regarding a private business and other outside employment. They are also prohibited from preparing personal legal documents on behalf of those eligible, except for wills, powers of attorney, and affidavits.
Deployment
Our primary goal and first priority is to ensure members and their families are prepared for deployment. That means the legal offices works with members to ensure everything is in order. This includes the preparation of wills, advance medical directives (living will and medical power of attorney), general/special powers of attorney, and assisting in arrangement to help support service members and their families. If you or a family member is deploying soon, please attend our walk-in legal assistance hours or call our office to make an appointment. Please make every effort to visit our office or call and schedule an appointment as soon as possible after receiving deployment notification.
Wills and Estates
A will is a written legal declaration of how personal property should be distributed after death. The Legal Office can assist eligible military and family members in preparing a will. Before making an appointment, members should review the Will Considerations For Military Families fact sheet and complete a Will Questionnaire Worksheet located on the Air Force Legal Assistance Website.
To complete the worksheet, click on this link and select "Legal Worksheets" and click the "Create Will and Advance Medical Directive Worksheet" button. Please keep the ticket number that corresponds to the Will Worksheet.
· Active duty and dependents: Will appointments can be made during our walk-in hours.
· Retirees and Eligible Dependents: Once completed, please have your ticket number available and call (850) 882-4612 or 4613 to make an appointment to finalize your will in person.
WILLS
Active duty and dependents: Will appointments can be made anytime during our normal business hours
Retirees and Eligible Dependents
Legal Assistance and Will creation are handled by appointment only. Please call 850-882-4612 or 4613 to schedule an appointment.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE FEEDBACK
We are always striving to improve our customer service. If you have visited our office recently for Legal Assistance, please take the time to complete our feedback survey located on the Air Force Legal Assistance Website.