Legal Assistance

Soldier and Family Legal Services (also known as the Legal Assistance Office) provide 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.  Soldier and Family Legal services enhance 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 Retirees of the armed services who currently receive military retired pay and their Family Members are eligible for legal assistance.Clients 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 and 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

Legal Assistance Attorneys 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 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 and 1:00 p.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 available on a walk-in basis. All other matters require an appointment. Please call 315-772-5261 during office hours to schedule an appointment.

Contact Information

The Fort Drum Soldier and Family Legal Services 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.

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.  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.