Legal Assistance

The APG Office of the Staff Judge Advocate is a consolidated legal office comprised of civilian attorneys, military judge advocates, and paralegal professionals.

It is our privilege to provide proactive legal support to the senior commander, garrison commander, tenant commanders, directorates, staff, and quality legal services to all authorized clients, including military members, family members and retirees.

Visit the links below to learn more about the services we provide. This site contains useful legal information, but should not be viewed as legal advice. For legal advice specific to your particular circumstances, please contact our office.

For questions or concerns, please reach the Legal Assistance Office at 410-278-1583. Visit the Legal Assistance Office webpage.

Divisions

• Client Services Division
  Our mission is to assist those eligible for legal services with their personal legal affairs in a timely and professional manner. The goal is to meet clients’ needs for information on personal legal matters and to assist them in resolving their personal legal problems whenever possible. The program’s existence is based on the Army's need for soldier readiness, morale, discipline, and maintenance of a quality force.
• Administrative and Civil Law Division
  The Administrative and Civil Law Division provides legal support to the command on all issues, with the exception of the UCMJ. Civil Law responsibilities include, but are not limited to, civilian personnel and labor law, contract and fiscal law, environmental law, federal litigation, the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts, the Joint Ethics Regulation and Federal ethics laws, military administrative law (e.g., 15-6 investigations, line of duty investigations, and Financial Liability Investigation), and military personnel law.
• Military Justice Division
  The Military Justice Division is responsible for the administration of Military Justice within the General Court-Martial jurisdiction of the Commander, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, and U.S. Army Garrison APG and Aberdeen Proving Ground. The Division also provides support and assistance to the subordinate commanders and the tenant units located on the installation.
• APG Magistrate Court
  APG Magistrate Court prosecutes misdemeanor offenses committed by civilian as well as traffic offenses committed by Soldiers within jurisdiction of Aberdeen Proving Ground. Court dates are scheduled twice a month usually on Thursdays.

Legal Assistance Office

Phone:
(410) 278-1583

Location:

Client Services Division and OSJA

Bldg. 4305

Janet M. Barr Soldier Support Center

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005

Hours of Operation:

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. (closed from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.)
Wednesday and Friday: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. (closed in the afternoon)
 

Service Availability:

Walk-in Services (Tuesday): Available from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.
 

Appointments (Thursday): Available from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. To schedule an appointment, please contact us at 410-278-1583.
 

Notary and Power of Attorney Services: These services are available on a walk-in basis during normal business hours; To guarantee service and prevent any inconvenience, please contact us prior to your arrival to confirm a notary is available to notarize your documents.

The Claims Office's Mission: pursuant to Army Regulation 27-20, is to process, investigate, adjudicate, and negotiate the settlement of non-contractual claims on behalf of and against the Army filed at Aberdeen Proving Ground. We provide professional resolution of claims filed against the United States government and assert claims on behalf of the United States government against responsible parties. Although our office cannot advise anyone in filing a claim against the government, we can provide you with the necessary forms.

If you have any questions regarding a potential claim, feel free to contact us at 410-278-1583.

The three most common types of claims filed with this office are the following:

Personnel Claims Act, 31 USC § 3721, as implemented by Army Regulation 27-20, chapter 11.

These are administrative claims by military personnel and DA civilians only for losses incident to service. This includes household goods damages during shipment; privately owned vehicle shipment damage; on-post POV theft, vandalism and other unusual occurrences; and on-post quarters damage and theft. This is a gratuitous payment statute, not intended as total insurance coverage. Claims for damaged household goods are initiated by filing a Notice of Loss with your carrier within 75 days (strict deadline) of the delivery, and the formal claim must be filed within nine months of the delivery. All other claims under this chapter must be presented to an Army claims office within two years of the incident.

Federal Tort Claims Act:, 28 USC §§ 2671 – 2680, as implemented by Army Regulation 27-20, chapter 4.

These are administrative claims made by anyone against the United States Government for loss or damage caused by a government employee acting in the scope of his/her employment. The FTCA requires the filing of an administrative claim, signed and demanding a sum certain, with the appropriate agency within two years of the incident. Once the claim is filed, the claimant must wait to file suit in federal court until six months have elapsed since the date of filing, a final offer is issued, or the claim is denied, whichever comes first.

The Personnel Claims Section receives, investigates, adjudicates & settles all claims filed by active-duty service members, Department of the Army civilians, DOW civilian employees who are not employees of the Department of the Navy, Air Force, or U.S. Marine Corps, the members of the USAR or the ARNG performing inactive-duty training or active-service & civilian employees of the ARNG funded under 32 U.S.C. § 709.

Claims under Article 139, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 USC § 939, as implemented by Army Regulation 27-20, chapter 9.

These are administrative claims made against military personnel only for loss of, or damage to, real or personal property that has been willfully damaged or wrongfully taken. Claims for death or personal injury, subrogated claims, and claims founded in negligence or breach of a contractual or fiduciary relationship are excluded. All claims under this chapter must be presented to an Army claims office within 90 days of the incident.

For questions or concerns, please reach the Legal Assistance Office at 410-278- 1583. Visit the Legal Assistance Office webpage at https://home.army.mil/apg/my-fort/all-services/legal-assistance-office.

This year's Installation Tax Assistance Program, directed by the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Client Services Division. The Client Services Division will continue to answer simple tax questions but will only provide tax preparation assistance to Service Members returning from combat zones and contingency operations. Returning Service Members should direct income tax concerns to the Client Services Division by calling 410-278-1583 or by visiting the office is located on the 3rd floor of building 4305.

For questions or concerns, please reach the Legal Assistance Office at 410-278-1583. Visit the Legal Assistance Office webpage at, https://home.army.mil/apg/my-fort/all-services/legal-assistance-office.