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. 

On the Weapons Station we are located in Building 84 (Naval Support Activity) at 2316 Red Bank Rd, Room 105, Goose Creek, SC 29445

Contact the Legal Office at 843-963-5502 (Air Base) or 843-794-7500 (Weapons Station)

Attorney consultations are available by appointment only. Your initial consultation will be telephonic. You will receive a text message (if you have a cell phone) from an attorney asking for a convenient time for you to speak. The attorney will work around your schedule. Your attorney may ask you to email documents for their review, so please have any such documents ready in a readable format (word doc, .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, on Tuesdays, via phone and/or in person 

We 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

Walk-in hours for Notary Services and Powers of Attorney (POAs) are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

*Weapons Station: All services are by appointment only.

We cannot advise on the following issues:

Business or Commercial Enterprises (this includes situations where you are a landlord)

*Criminal or Disciplinary Matters
Real Estates Sales/Closing Documents

Legal Concerns of Another Person

Most Medical/MEB issues 

Matters in which you are represented by a private attorney.

*Active duty members should contact the Area Defense Counsel at 843-963-4416/4415.

We can provide the following documents:

• Wills
• Living Will
• Durable Power of Attorney
• Health Care Power of Attorney
• General Power of Attorney
• Specific Power of Attorney

Will preparation is conducted primarily via email and telephone. Clients should call the Air Base Legal office to request instructions on filling out a will worksheet. Will processing takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks from start to finish. Will signing appointments are at the Air Base by appointment only, on Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Short-notice deployers have expanded timeslots. To schedule a will signing appointment at the Weapons Station, please contact that office directly.

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 carrier first via the Defense Personal Property online system within 180 days.  If following that process you are not  satisfied with the result, you may then file through the 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, call 877-754-1212. If you have any questions, you may call the AFCSC Helpdesk at DSN 312-986-8044 or 877-754-1212.

File an itemized claim in DPS for every lost or damaged item. (For non-temporary storage and direct procurement method 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 $1,500 total for shipments. Payment is made within 5 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 7 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 within 3 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.

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 off er if you are completely satisfied.
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. 

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.

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 United States Passport.

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

https://www.jag.navy.mil/legal-services/southeast/