Legal Assistance

The Camp Pendleton Base Legal Offices provide free attorney and paralegal assistance to uniformed service members, their family members and dependents, retirees and other eligible clients regarding personal legal matters. Family members or dependents are those persons identified in the sponsor's service record and/or who possess a valid United States Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card. Legal assistance attorneys are available to assist clients with step-parent adoption, child support, consumer problems, contracts, debt and credit problems, immigration advice, wills, living wills, name changes, marital separation agreements and spousal support.

There are three locations for legal representation. The Base Legal Offices are located in Building 22161, Building 22163 and the satellite location at Camp Horno in Building 53435. Each office offers various legal services:

1. The main Legal Office in Building 22161 handles adoptions and divorces by appointment only. Appointments are scheduled one week in advance by calling Friday mornings at 7:30 a.m. Wills, powers of attorney, guardianship and name changes may be accomplished on a walk-in basis at the same location.
2. The Legal Office in Building 22163 offers walk-in services for non-judicial punishment and general counseling on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:30 a.m.
3. Legal representation in Building 53435 at Camp Horno has NJP and general counseling available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

When visiting any base Legal Office, please bring your SRB, a copy of the right Acknowledgment Form, a copy of Unit Punishment Book and any documentary evidence with you.

Walk-in Hours

Walk-ins are available Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 7 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. A line begins forming at 6:30 a.m.

Note: Bring all documentation relating to your case with you to your walk-in session. If you do not have the necessary documents on hand, an attorney may not be able to assist you.

Services available during walk-in hours:

• Consumer law issues (credit card debt, identity theft, car loans, foreclosures, car contracts, etc.)
• Contract disputes
• Landlord-tenant disputes
• Review of contracts (for example, to purchase a car)
• Non-support issues
• Family law issues

Citizenship and Immigration Hours

Office hours for assistance with citizenship (if you are already a permanent resident) and immigration (if you are seeking to become a permanent resident) are:

• Monday: 9-11 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m. Citizenship (walk-ins)
• Tuesday: 9-11 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m. Citizenship (walk-ins)
• Wednesday: 8-11 a.m. Immigration (walk-ins)
• Wednesday: 2-3:30 p.m. Citizenship Brief
• Thursday: 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. Immigration (by appointment only)

Matters handled by appointment only:

• Adoptions
• Divorces/dissolutions
• Detailed wills/advance medical directives
• Name changes
• Immigration (with the exception of our walk-in hours on Wednesday morning)

Appointments are scheduled the week prior on Friday mornings. Appointments can be scheduled in person at 7 a.m. on Fridays for the following week. Appointments are scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Powers of Attorney

22 Area office Legal Assistance offers Powers of Attorney and notary services in our 22 Area office (Bldg. 22161) on Mondays - Thursdays from 0730 - 1100, and 1300 - 1500, and on Fridays from 0730 – 1100

Notary Public Hours

Notary services are available Monday – Friday, 8-11 a.m. and 1-4:30 p.m.

For more information, visit the Camp Pendleton Legal Services Support Team online.