Fort Drum  Legal

The Legal Assistance Office (LAO) provides free advice and counseling to Soldiers and Family members regarding their personal legal problems. Communication between a client and a Legal Assistance Attorney is confidential. The mission of the Legal Assistance program is to assist those eligible for assistance with their personal legal affairs in a timely and professional manner by (1) meeting their needs for information on personal legal matters, and (2) resolving their personal legal problems whenever possible.  The LAO enhances combat readiness by providing a number of client and preventative law services, during both routine office appointments and pre-deployment processing.

Eligibility for Services

Active duty members of the Armed Forces and their Family members, reserve component members serving on active duty for more than 29 consecutive days and their Family members, and Retired members of the armed services who currently receive military retirement or disability pay and their Family members are eligible for legal assistance. You must have a valid military identification card to be eligible for services.

Types of Services

The LAO provides advice in the following areas:

• Family law (marriage, annulment, separation, divorce, paternity, family support, child custody, adoption)
• Wills, Advance Medical Directives and simple estate planning
• Real property law (home purchase, leases)
• Personal property law (contracts, warranties, consumer issues)
• Economic matters (debt, bankruptcy, insurance)
• Civilian administrative law (name change, license suspension)
• Military administrative law (OER, NCOER appeals, financial liability investigations, memorandums of reprimand, separation actions)
• Torts (Servicemembers Civil Relief Act)
• Taxes (real and personal property tax, income tax)
• Civilian Criminal Matters (excludes actions brought under the U.C.M.J.)
• Powers of attorney (general and special)
• Notarization

The LAO cannot represent clients in civilian courts, cannot appear as attorneys of record in court pleadings, cannot advise on private business activities, cannot advise on employment-related matters, and cannot assist with lawsuits against the United States.

Hours of Operation

The LAO office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office is closed on federal holidays and DONSAs (Days of No Scheduled Activities). Powers of attorney and notarizations are done on a walk-in basis. All other matters require an appointment. Clients must call 315-772-7545, starting at 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, to schedule an appointment for the following business day.

Contact Information

The Fort Drum LAO is located in Room A2-68, Clark Hall, (Building P-10720), Mount Belvedere Boulevard (across the road from the PX/Commissary). For additional information call 315-772-5261 or DSN 312-772-5261. 

Household Goods Claims Services

If, after delivery of your household goods (HHG), you discover some of your property has been damaged or is missing, you must process your loss or damage notification report, within 75 days after delivery of your HHG, through the www.move.mil website.  If you have questions, please call the Fort Knox Claims Office at (502) 626-3000.  The Fort Drum Claims Office no longer processes claims for HHG.