Joint Base Langley-Eustis  Legal

The 633 Air Base Wing Staff Judge Advocate's Office provides legal advice and support to the wing commander and over 40 unit commanders and staff agencies in the areas of military justice, adverse administrative actions, ethics, general civil, operations, environmental, labor and contract law. They provide preventive law, military-related legal assistance and tax service to a client base of over 75,000 valid military ID card holders. The office also assists with property, tort and medical malpractice claims involving the government. The assistant staff judge advocates prosecute airmen in court-martials for violations of military law and prosecute civilian offenders in federal magistrate court. They also provide legal assistance.

Legal Assistance Mission

In accordance with Air Force Instruction 51-504, Legal Assistance, Notary and Preventive Law Programs, dated 27 October 2003, the purpose or mission of the legal assistance program is two-fold: mission-related legal assistance is to ensure that the legal difficulties of military members do not adversely affect command effectiveness or readiness; and non-mission related legal assistance is to assist certain categories of beneficiaries (as resources permit).

Types of Services Provided

Notarization of documents and powers of attorney are provided daily between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on a walk-in basis. 

The legal office can offer limited legal consultation by appointment. They can assist in matters such as:

• Personal, non-business, civil legal problems; with general consultation regarding:

  • Bankruptcy

  • Consumer credit issues

  • Home ownership and lease laws

  • Child custody

  • Divorce and separation

  • Immigration

  • Servicemembers Civil Relief Act issues

• Will preparation and execution

• Taxes

  • From January to April each year, the legal office also offers advice and submission of your taxes via the tax center.

Fridays from 11 a.m. to 12 noon, the legal office provides walk-in legal assistance for active duty Army and Air Force personnel. Because walk-ins have limited availability to see attorneys, the legal office suggests coming in by 10:30 a.m. to sign in for a higher probability to be seen during that hour of assistance.

It is important to note, that when you speak to a judge advocate about the above topics they are providing a general review to identify potential problems for which a client may require more expert assistance. Judge advocates will not draft any real estate sale or closing documents, separation agreements or divorce decrees, or inter vivos (living) trusts, nor can they provide personal off-base representation in court.

For the clients’ convenience, the Air Force Legal Assistance Website, has legal assistance topic information and legal worksheets, such as wills, medical directives and powers of attorney available. These worksheets help organize your information, and once complete you call the legal office to give the ticket number that has been provided to you. The legal office is then able to pull your information and draft your documents, minimizing your time spent in the legal office.

Legal Services Not Provided

Unfortunately, the legal office does not offer specific assistance for any issues involving personal commercial enterprises, legal issues or concerns raised on behalf of third parties, nor can they assist in any criminal issues under local, state or federal criminal law. The legal office will also not speak to clients looking for assistance on military disciplinary actions. For assistance with military disciplinary actions, contact the Langley Air Force Base Area Defense Counsel at 757-764-5607.

Household Goods Claims Services

Most traditional household good claims processing has shifted from local legal offices to the Air Force Claims Service Center.

AFCSC website: https://claims.jag.af.mil

Mailing Address: AFCSC/JAD, 1940 Allbrook Drive, Building 1, Suite 500, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433. Phone numbers: 937-656-8044 or 877-754-1212.

To file a household goods claim you must ensure your Notice of Loss or Damage forms are received by the carrier no later than the 75th day after the date of delivery. The carrier is required to give you a toll free number or email address to facilitate the claims filing process. If this doesn't happen, call the AFCSC. The Notice of Loss or Damage forms for full replacement value and non-FRV moves are also submitted through the AFCSC web site.

Important – the Notice of Loss or Damage is not a claim (but still must be sent), and you must file the actual claim with the carrier within nine months to collect FRV. After nine months, you can still file a claim with the AFCSC for depreciated value of your items. Claims with the AFCSC must be started within two years of the date of delivery.

Defense Personal Property System: If you moved under DPS, you will file your Notice of Loss or Damage form in the system within 75 days of the date of delivery. Likewise, you must file a claim against the carrier in the system within nine months of the date of delivery. You can transfer claims in which you are dissatisfied by the carrier's offer to the AFCSC.

If you are having trouble with any step of the claims process you can contact the local base office. They will assist you in filling your claim and contacting the AFCSC.

Fort Eustis Legal Services - Staff Judge Advocate

The Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, located at 2732 Madison Ave., Fort Eustis, provides a variety of client services to eligible military personnel, dependents and retirees.

The Fort Eustis Legal Assistance Office offers advice and assistance on personal legal matters including wills, trusts, living wills/appointments of health care agents, promissory notes, leases, real estate, financial issues, Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, Uniformed Services Employment Reemployment Rights Act, federal and state taxes, Virginia motor vehicle laws, sales contracts, family law and military administrative legal matters.

Notarizations and powers of attorney are provided on a walk-in basis from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Wednesday and Friday; and from 12 noon to 4 p.m., Thursday. Legal advice on all other issues can be obtained by scheduling an appointment at 757-878-3031, ext. 222, or by visiting the legal assistance office during walk-in hours on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1-4 p.m. Clients seeking assistance during walk-in hours will be assisted on a first come, first served basis.

A legal assistance attorney is available one Friday each month at Fort Story Post Headquarters. To make an appointment at Fort Story, call 757-422-7101, ext. 221.

The Tax Assistance Center, 2733 Madison Ave., is open from late January until April 15. Call 757-878-2343 for information or to make an appointment. The tax center is run by volunteers and has an income limit. As a practical matter, the tax center is primarily able to serve service members in the grade of E-5 and below.

Claims

The Fort Eustis Claims Office processes pink forms (DD Form 1840-R) at the 11:30 a.m. initial group briefing on Mondays and Wednesdays. Failure to file your pink forms within 70 days of household goods delivery likely will cause a reduction or denial of your claim. Claims may be filed on a walk-in basis, but appointments are recommended for complex claims. Claimants are responsible to complete their paperwork prior to turn-in. Once the paperwork is completed, claimants may call for an appointment and advise how many items they are claiming. To make an appointment, call 757-878-3536, ext 224.

Center for Personnel Claims Support
Phone: 502-626-3000; DSN: 464-3000
Fax: 502-626-1320
Web: http://www.JAGCNet.army.mil/Pclaims
Email: usarmy.knox.hqda-otjag.mbx.cpcs@mail.mil
If stationed in Europe or Korea, contact local military claims office.

Trial Defense Office

The Fort Eustis Trial Defense Office, 2733 Madison Ave., provides confidential legal advice to soldiers undergoing criminal investigations or facing courts-martial, Article 15s or administrative separation actions. Soldiers who believe they may be suspected of crimes should call 757-878-2064 for information. Article 15 and administrative separation counseling is provided twice weekly. Call 757-878-2064 for specific dates and times.