Legal Assistance

Legal assistance is available at Moody Air Force Base. The legal office serves active-duty members, retirees and family members with valid military identification cards. For assistance, call 229-257-3414.

Types of Services

The legal office can provide assistance with:

• Powers of attorney
• Notary service
• Basic wills
• Living wills
• Referrals for other legal matters
• Information on other legal matters (such as bankruptcy, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, notaries, landlord-tenant and consumer issues)

Legal Services Not Available

An Air Force legal assistance attorney cannot represent members in court or in an administrative hearing. Legal assistance attorneys cannot offer legal advice on criminal issues, official Air Force matters (such as promotions, assignments or adverse administrative actions) or matters involving a personal business (except SCRA). In these cases, or in other cases requiring specialized knowledge of particular areas of the law, the legal office may recommend consultation with a civilian attorney.

Please note: Legal assistance attorneys are advisers only.

Claims

All household goods claims are now processed through the Air Force Claims Service Center.

To process a claim, please follow the following steps:

• If you moved with the web-based Defense Personal Property system, file your loss and/or damage report directly with the carrier online at Move.mil within 75 days after delivery.
• If you miss the 75-day deadline, you can file your claim directly with the carrier to get full replacement value as long as you do so within nine months.
• After nine months, but no later than two years from delivery, file with AFCSC. If you file with AFCSC, you must file within two years from delivery and you will only be reimbursed for depreciated replacement costs.

Instructions and paperwork are available online at the Air Force Claims Service Center. If you have any questions, call the AFCSC help desk at DSN 312-986-8044 or 877-754-1212.

Tax Assistance

From late January-April 15 each year, Moody Air Force Base opens the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance office. Volunteers are trained and certified by the Internal Revenue Service to prepare a variety of returns for our military community. This is a free service for any active duty, dependents (with military identification card), National Guard, reserve, public health and military retiree with access to the base. Assistance is by appointment only. Appointments are made by contacting the legal office. Please note that due to software changes, the VITA office will likely be unable to access your previous year’s return. To expedite return preparation and ensure accuracy, you may want to bring your previous returns to your appointment. Previous returns can be obtained by contacting the IRS.

Key paperwork to bring to your appointment:

• Military ID for taxpayer and spouse (not required for dependents unless we are preparing a separate return for them)
• Social Security cards for everyone who is listed on the return – mandatory per the IRS
• IRS-approved alternatives for the SSN card are Medicare Card Part A or Social Security benefits statement with your SSN on it. NOTE: The Social Security Agency is no longer issuing letters with your name and SSN on it while waiting for a new card so now is the time to contact the SSA if you cannot find your card.
• Previous year's tax return
• All tax forms (W-2s, 1099s, 1098s, etc.)
• Account Information for direct deposit (institution, account number and routing number)

Area Defense Counsel

The Area Defense Counsel at Moody AFB is separate from both the staff judge advocate and the base command channels. The ADC reports to the chief senior defense counsel of the Eastern Circuit, headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. They can be reached at 229-257-3421.

The ADC provides independent legal defense services to military members facing:

• Article 15
• Court-martial
• Involuntary discharge actions
• Investigations by security police or the Office of Special Investigations, as well as any other adverse action in which counsel is required or authorized.

Special Victims’ Counsel

The Special Victims’ Counsel at Moody AFB is separate from both the staff judge advocate and the base command channels. The SVC reports to the Senior Special Victims’ Counsel of the Eastern Circuit, headquartered at Langley AFB, Virginia. They can be reached at 229-257-9757.

The SVC represents victims and survivors of sexual assault and related crimes.