Legal Assistance

On the Air Base we are located in Building 16000 (Wing Headquarters) at 102 E Hill Blvd, Room 135, Charleston Air Force Base, SC 29404.

Contact the Legal Office at 843-963-5502.

Attorney consultations are available by appointment only. Your initial consultation will be telephonic. An attorney will reach out to you via phone or email, so please ensure you provide an email address when you initially contact our office. The attorney may ask you to email documents for their review, so please have any such documents ready in a readable format (Word, PDF, etc.) and a means of sending them. In-person visits are available if, after your initial consultation, you and your attorney determine one is necessary.

**Immigration consultations are by appointment only, primarily on Tuesdays, via phone and/or in person. Call 843-963-7945.

Our office can advise you on the following issues:

• Adoption
• Automobile purchase/sale
• Buying/selling home (generally)
• Casualty affairs
• Child support/paternity
• Dependent care
• Divorce/separation
• Landlord/tenant
• Mobility requirements
• *Notary services
• Personal finances/debts
• *Powers of attorney
• Renting and leases
• Service Member's Civil Relief Act
• Taxes
• Will/estates

We cannot advise on the following issues:

• Business or commercial enterprises (including situations where you are a landlord)
• *Criminal or disciplinary matters
  • *Active duty members should contact the Area Defense Counsel at 843-963-4416/4415.
• Real estate sales/closing documents
• Legal concerns of another person
• Most medical/MEB issues
• Matters in which you are represented by a private attorney

Notaries and standard powers of attorneys are provided on a walk-in basis. Walk in hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesday.

We can provide the following documents:

• Wills
• Living will
• Durable power of attorney
• Health care power of attorney
• General power of attorney
• Special power of attorney

Will processing is a 4–6-week process. Contact the main line 843-963-5502, to be emailed the information that is required to start this process.

If you do not have an email address or access to a computer, please call the Legal Office at 843-963-5502 for alternate instructions.

All Household Goods Claims are processed through the Transportation Service Provider, or TSP, first via the Defense Personal Property System, or DPS, online within 180 days.

File an itemized claim in DPS for every lost or damaged item. For non-temporary storage, or NTS, and direct procurement method, or DPM, shipments, your claim may be emailed or mailed (contact your NTS or DPM contractor who handled your shipment to confirm where to send your claim). The TSP must confirm receipt of your claim within 15 days.

Alternative Filing Option - Quick Claim Settlement: If offered on delivery day, you may file paperwork in-person with the TSP to promptly resolve minor loss or damage. Quick claim amounts will not exceed $2,000 total for shipments. Payment is made within five days of claim submission. You may still file other claims for loss or damage discovered after delivery, excluding the items filed under a "quick claim."

The TSP may send someone to inspect your items to determine payment or repair amount. For lost items, a tracer action will be initiated. Every effort will be made by the TSP to locate your missing items prior to advising you to file a claim.

The TSP has 30 days to make an offer or deny liability for claims under $1,000 and 60 days on claims over $1,000. You can make counteroffers, and the TSP must respond to each reply within seven days. If repairing an item, the TSP must hire a repair company within 20 days and have that company inspect the item within 45 days. Offers for claims entered in DPS or communicated via email will be honored. If there is a dispute between two differing offers, the offer that is most advantageous (i.e., higher dollar value) to the customer will be honored. TSPs will update DPS with the final dollar amount when settled. For NTS and DPM shipments, the delivering TSP must notify you and the Military Claims Office, or MCO, within three business days if denying liability. It’s then recommended to transfer your claim to the MCO. If the TSP has stopped communication, DO NOT dispose of damaged items, obtain an estimate or repair any items without first contacting the MCO for approval. (See below for MCO details)

You may settle a claim by accepting in full or accepting and rejecting the offer for separate items. Individual items you reject can be transferred to your MCO for further review.

DO NOT FEEL PRESSURED; Only accept an offer if you are completely satisfied.

If following that process you are not satisfied with the result, you may then file through the respective service Military Claims Office, or MCO.

• Air Force Claims Service Center - If you file with AFCSC, you must file within two years and you will only be reimbursed for depreciated replacement costs. For access on a non-government computer or if you have questions, call the AFCSC Helpdesk at 877-754-1212 or DSN 312-986-8044.
• Navy Personnel Claims Unit Norfolk - Call 888-897-8217, 757-440-6315, or DSN 564-3310. You also may email NorfolkClaims@us.navy.mil and visit their Personnel Claims website.
  • Defense Personal Property System - If a service member’s household goods shipment was processed using the Defense Personal Property System, the claim must be filed against the Transportation Service Provider in DPS. Service members can access their DPS account at DoD Household Goods Portal. DPS incorporates direct on-line claims filing, negotiation and settlement. Thirty days after filing a claim in DPS, service members may transfer all or a portion of the claim to their MCO by selecting the “transfer to MCO” option in DPS. The Navy MCO is the Personnel Claims Unit, or PCU, located in Norfolk, VA. For important information about transferring all or a portion of your DPS claim to the PCU, visit instructions and guidance on transferring DPS claims.
  • Non-DPS Claims - If your household goods shipment was not processed using DPS, you must submit your claim to the TSP using those instructions provided to you by the TSP at delivery. Thirty days after filing a claim with the TSP, the service member can transfer all or a portion of the claim to the MCO. For important information about transferring all or a portion of your claim to the PCU, visit claims for loss of or damage to household goods for non-DPS shipments.

Not Fully Satisfied?

Consider contacting the MCO if the TSP has denied your claim, you choose not to accept the TSP’s offer, or you have not heard from the TSP in 30 days.

Please note all transferred claims are handled by the MCOs outside of DPS. After transferring your claim in DPS, do not dispose of any items. Note any further communication with the MCO will occur external to DPS.

For Navy Personnel

Region Legal Service Office Southeast (RLSO SE) supports the Department of the Navy’s operational readiness by providing timely, accurate, and effective legal solutions to afloat and ashore commands, supporting the fair administration of military justice, and providing superior legal assistance services to sailors, their families, and other eligible patrons.

RLSO SE geographic area of responsibility includes the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas as well as Cuba, Puerto Rico, South America and portions of Mexico.

Command Services provides advice in the following subject areas: Administrative Law, Admiralty, Administrative Separations and Processing, Disciplinary Options, Freedom of Expression and Grievances, Homeland Security, Interactions with Civilian Law Enforcement Agencies, Subpoenas, JAGMAN Investigations, Military Justice, Operational Law, Personnel Matters, Standards of Conduct and Government Ethics.

The Legal Assistance Office offers legal services for Consumer/Financial Affairs, Crime Victim Information and Advice, Disaster Relief Support and Advice, Family Law, Foreclosure Advice and Counseling, Immigration, Notary Services, Powers of Attorney, Landlord/Tenant Matters, Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act, Small Claims Court Matters, Victim Assistance, and Wills & Estate Planning.

Legal assistance is provided based upon available resources to Active Duty, Reservists on active duty for 30 days or more, retirees, and their lawful dependents from all branches of service. In order to receive assistance, clients must present their current military ID card in person at a legal assistance office. For notary services, all customers must present two forms of identification: valid military identification card; and valid state-issued drivers license or state-issued identification card, or valid U.S. passport.

Eligible individuals may elect to receive legal assistance services remotely for purposes of personal convenience or necessity. Remote legal assistance services include discussion and communications with RLSO legal assistance attorneys and support staff by telephone, electronic mail (email), internet programs to include Defense Connect Online (DCO) and DoD Safe File Exchange at safe.apps.mil, or other means conducted in place of face-to-face consultations.

RLSO Southeast - Jacksonville (HQ)

Command Services
PO Box 135
Naval Air Station
Jacksonville, FL 32212

Comm:904-542-2941 (DSN 942)
Fax: 904-542-3092

Trial Services
Bldg. 4, Ranger St.
PO Box 116
Jacksonville, FL 32212-0116

Comm: 904-542-2920 (DSN 942)
Fax: 904-542-3457

Legal Assistance
Bldg. 4, Ranger St.
PO Box 116
Jacksonville, FL 32212-0116

Comm: 904-542-5895/5896 (DSN 942)
Fax: 904-542-2571

Customer Service Hours:
Mon-Thurs: 0830-1130 & 1300-1500
Fri: 0830-1130

Navy JAG Region Legal Service Office Southeast