Legal Assistance

United States Navy Legal Services

Region Legal Service Office, Mid-Atlantic Detachment Groton; 84 Grayling Avenue, Box 46; Groton, CT 06349; 860-694-3741; FAX: 860-694-2628; Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Closed Saturday, Sunday and Holidays.

The mission of the Region Legal Service Office of the Mid-Atlantic Detachment Groton Legal Assistance Department is to provide quality legal services and counsel in support of the operational readiness of Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard commands and eligible individuals in a prompt, courteous, and professional manner.

We are a detachment of RLSO Mid-Atlantic, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia.

• Region Legal Service Office, MIDLANT website https://www.jag.navy.mil/
• Region Legal Service Office, MIDLANT, BROFF, NEWPORT; Building 690, 690 Peary Street, telephone: 841-6195, fax: 841-1086.
• Groton Legal Service Office Branch Office Groton, Navy Mid-Atlantic, Newport Office, Newport; Building 360, 360 Elliot Street, Telephone: 401-841-3766, ext. 200. 
• [NOTE: due to flood, Groton Legal Service Office Branch Office has moved to a temporary location: Building 690, 690 Peary Street Telephone: 401-841-1350].

Eligibility: RLSO provides legal assistance services to active-duty members and their dependents. Assistance is provided to retirees as resources permit.

Types of services: Attorneys counsel clients on numerous topics, but not on any that involve military justice or actions against the United States government. The information is designed to be general and does not in any way replace competent legal advice such as:

• Adoption
• Advance medical directives
• Consumer issues
• Domestic relations
• Domicile and residence
• How to find an attorney
• Immigration and naturalization
• Landlord-tenant issues
• Legal readiness
• Military rights and benefits
• Notary service
• Powers of attorney
• Preventative law articles
• Real estate matters
• Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
• Wills and other estate planning
• Veterans Affairs related issues

Claims service: Members relocating to the Groton/New London area will be filing claims at the Personnel Claims Unit in Norfolk, VA. Claims for damages and loss to household goods is a two-step process.

The first step is the submission of the DD Form 1840/1840R. This is a pink form given by the movers at the time of delivery. You will have 70 days to turn this form in to the personal property office or our office. Any items noticed missing or damaged at delivery will go on the front side of this form. Both you and the movers will sign this form before the mover leaves your residence on the date of delivery, and the mover will take one copy. After the mover leaves, the form will then be flipped over, the carbons, if any, will be reversed, and any additional missing or damaged items will be listed. This form must be turned in to the personal property office by the 70th day.

Upon submission of the DD Form 1840/1840R, a white package will be given. Completion of this package is required for payment. Instructions for completion are enclosed. When this package has been completed according to the instructions, the entire package, as well as all supporting documentation, must be mailed to the Personnel Claims Unit, Norfolk, VA.

Seeing an attorney: Legal assistance is handled on an appointment basis, and attorneys are available to see clients Monday through Friday. Clients must provide proof of eligibility for services by showing a valid military identification card upon check-in. Appointments may be made two weeks in advance. You should arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment to check in. If you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment, please give at least 24 hours notice by phone.

Walk-ins: Walk-in clients are seen as resources permit.

Notary and power of attorney service: Powers of attorney and notarizations are provided on a walk-in basis and do not require consultation with an attorney. Clients that need wills or other estate planning documents prepared should pick up a packet from legal and have it filled out before obtaining an appointment with an attorney.

Draft your “powers-of-Attorney” at: www.jag.navy.mil select “LEGAL SERVICES” “LEGAL ASSISTANCE” or “SPECIAL POWER of ATTORNEY” – Then select the Power of Attorney that you need drafted.

• Complete the form.
• Default of the form is set for an O4 and above to be notarize.
• If you select Civilian notary and select a State you reside, a civilian notary at the Bank, library or at this office can notarize.
• The maximum length of time of a POA form can be up to one Year.

You can print the form but you are not authorize to save the form.

Recommend drafting a printed “Power of Attorney” with a Civilian Notary, and a Copy with a JAG Notary.

At this time Real Estate Powers of Attorney must be drafted by the legal office.

If you have any Questions? Call us at 860-694-3741

After normal business hours please direct specific personal questions or concerns to Military OneSource, a 24/7 information and referral service provided at no cost to military members and their families. You can contact Military OneSource at 800-342-9647 in the Continental U.S., International toll free 800-342-9647, or International collect 484-530-5908. LINK: https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrma/installations/navsubbase_new_london.html