Davis-Monthan AFB  Legal

The Staff Judge Advocate Office provides legal counsel to commanders on all matters affecting the installation and the mission, typically issues of military law. In addition, the Legal Office provides legal assistance to active-duty members including reservists on active status and guardsmen on federal orders their dependents and the sizeable military retiree population in the Tucson area. Call 520-228-5242.

Legal Assistance

Active-duty, Reserve Component on orders or pending deployment, retired military members and military identification card-eligible dependents are eligible to receive legal assistance for personal, civil legal issues. Please note that ethical rules prohibit us from providing assistance on matters where a person is already represented by another attorney.

Powers of Attorney, Notary service, Legal assistance, and Will executions are available by appointment only. Call 520-228-5242 to schedule.  Please leave a voicemail, if necessary.

If you need a power of attorney or a will, you must complete a legal worksheet before coming to the legal office. Go to the Air Force Legal Assistance website. On this page, select Legal Worksheets. Select the appropriate document and complete it online. You will be given a ticket number. Save the ticket number and when you make your will appointment, give us the number. Ticket numbers are not automatically sent to the legal office. No appointment will be made without a ticket number.

Claims Services

Claims for damage to household goods resulting from Defense Personal Property System shipments are processed using the Department of Defense Move.mil website. Notice of loss or damage reports for DPS claims must be filed using this website. If you are unhappy with the carrier's settlement offer or your DPS claim is denied by the carrier, please contact the Air Force Claims Service Center at 877-754-1212. The AFCSC is located in Kettering, Ohio, and open 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. EST. Personnel who were not moved using the DPS system can file using the AFCSC website. Claims for damages to personally owned vehicles that occur during shipment can also be filed on the AFCSC website.

• 75 days from date of delivery to submit notice of loss or damage to the carrier (www.move.mil)
• 9 months from the date of delivery to file your claim for full replacement value
• 2 years from the date of delivery to file claim

Smooth Move Briefing:  https://legalassistance.law.af.mil/claims/

The base Legal Office is available to assist claimants with general claims information and questions.  Call 520-228-5242 for assistance.

Tax Assistance

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) center volunteers are trained and certified by the Internal Revenue Service to prepare a variety of returns for our military community. This is a free service for any Active Duty, dependents (with military identification), National Guard and Reserve members. Assistance is by appointment only. Appointments are made by contacting 520-228-3439. Must have social security card for everyone filing!Recommend bringing previous returns to your appointment. Previous returns can be retrieved by contacting the IRS.  The VITA center is located behind the Gas Station/Shoppette on the corner of Craycroft Rd & Granite St. 

Key paperwork to bring to your appointment:

• Military identification for taxpayer and spouse (not required for dependents unless we are doing a return for them)
• Social Security number cards for everyone who is listed on the return – mandatory per the IRS
  • IRS-approved alternatives for the SSN card are: Medicare Card Part A or Social Security Benefits Statement with your SSN on it. NOTE: The Social Security Agency is no longer issuing letters with your name and SSN on it while waiting on a new card so now is the time to contact the SSA if you cannot find your card. You can get a new card at the Social Security Office located at 3808 N. First Ave., just north of Prince Road. Contact phone number is 800-772-1213.

• Last year's tax return
• All tax forms (W-2s, 1099s, 1098s, etc.)
• Account information for direct deposit (institution, account number, and routing number)

Area Defense Counsel

The ADC at Davis-Monthan is separate from both the Staff Judge Advocate and the base command channels. It reports to the Chief Senior Defense Counsel of the Western Circuit, headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California. Their office is located in the Mission Support Group Building (3200) 2nd Floor.  Call 520-228-5664

The ADC provides objective legal defense services to military members facing:

• Article 15
• Court martial
• Involuntary discharge actions
• Investigations by security police or the Office of Special Investigations, as well as any other adverse action in which counsel is required or authorized

Special Victim's Counsel 
The SVC is separate from both the SJA and base command. They provide legal assistance, advice and representation to qualifying victims of certain crimes.

Citizenship
A representative from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service is available upon request to assist military members and/or dependents with alien registration and citizenship questions and issues. Contact the Legal office at 520-228-5690 for more information.