Legal Assistance

The Fort McCoy Installation Legal Office provides legal assistance to active duty soldiers (orders for 30+ days).  Family members and retirees on a space available basis. The Fort McCoy Legal Office phone number is 608-388-2165.

Types of Services

The types of assistance they provide are:

• Powers of Attorney
• Wills/Estates
• Consumer Law
• Military Administrative Matters
• Landlord/Tenant  

The Claims Office is your point of contact for several types of claims. Most Soldiers or DA Civilians will be contacting the claims office due to damage or loss of their personal property during shipment, whether that is with household goods, or during the mobilization/demobilization process.

There are currently three different programs in use for the shipment of Soldiers/DA Civilian’s HHG. Claims are currently being processed under the depreciated value process, the Full Replacement Value (FRV) program, and the DP3 program. It is imperative that Claimants know under which program their goods were shipped as each program has unique timelines and requirements. To determine which program applies to you, you should first contact your destination Transportation Office for assistance. If they are unable to assist you, contact your servicing claims office with your shipping paperwork available. 

Your first concern is to make sure that the Transportation Service Provider (TSP)/Carrier is provided notice of your loss/damage. Two of the above programs (depreciated value and FRV) still rely on the DD Form 1840/1840R for notification. 

Any items noticed as damaged or lost while the TSP/Carrier is still unloading items must be put on the front side of the DD Form 1840. Once the TSP/Carrier has left, you will need to go through your entire shipment, noting any missing or damaged items on the DD Form 1840R, “Notice of Loss or Damage”. You have 75 days from the date of delivery to go through your shipment, noting loss or damage, on the DD Form 1840R.  You must list any/all items you intend to file a claim for on the DD Form 1840/1840R. The completed DD Form 1840/1840R must be provided to the TSP/Carrier not later than 75 days after delivery. You can dispatch to the TSP/Carrier directly but you should ensure that you have documented proof that it was dispatched prior to day 75. Or, you may bring the form in to your servicing claims office within 70 days of delivery and the claims office will dispatch the form on your behalf. If you do not fulfill the notice to the TSP/Carrier requirement, you claim may be reduced or denied. The DD Form 1840/1840R is not your claim form.

The DP3 program may use another type of form for notification of loss or damage and Claimants under this program will need to ensure that they have provided the TSP/Carrier notice of damaged/lost items within their required timeframe. Persons moving under this program will need to coordinate with their servicing Transportation Office or their local claims office.

The phone number for the Fort McCoy Claims Office is: 608-388-6261.