Legal Resources

Legal Overview for Service Members

Military service members are entitled to various legal resources to help them navigate the unique challenges they face during active duty. This page provides an overview of available legal services, key commands and locations, and essential laws applicable to service members.

Legal Services for Service Members

Overview of Free Legal Services

Service members can access a variety of free legal services provided by their respective branches. These services are designed to assist with personal legal matters, military justice issues, and other legal concerns that may arise during active duty.

Types of Free Legal Services Available

Personal Legal Assistance

Service members can access personal legal assistance for a range of personal legal matters:

  • Drafting Wills: Creating a will to outline the distribution of your assets and care for your dependents after your death.
  • Powers of Attorney: Establishing a power of attorney document that allows someone else to make legal decisions on your behalf in your absence.
  • Notarizing Documents: Getting documents notarized to verify signatures and the authenticity of the document.
  • Family Law Matters: Legal advice and representation on issues such as divorce, child custody, child support, and adoption.

Military Justice Support

Military legal offices provide support for service members facing military justice proceedings:

  • Courts-Martial Defense: Representation and defense in military courts for those accused of military offenses.
  • Non-Judicial Punishment (NJP): Guidance and defense for service members undergoing NJP proceedings.
  • Administrative Separations: Legal advice and representation during administrative separation proceedings which may result in discharge from service.

Consumer Law

Service members can seek assistance for consumer-related legal issues:

  • Landlord-Tenant Disputes: Legal help with issues involving rental agreements, housing conditions, and disputes with landlords.
  • Consumer Fraud: Assistance in cases where service members are victims of fraud, scams, or deceptive business practices.
  • Debt Problems: Help with managing debt, negotiating with creditors, and understanding rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Civil Rights

Guidance is available on issues related to civil rights protections:

  • Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA): Ensuring protections under the SCRA, which provides various legal and financial protections to active-duty service members.
    • Reduced Interest Rates: Capping interest rates at 6% on pre-service debts.
    • Eviction Protection: Preventing eviction without a court order for active-duty service members if rent is below a certain amount.
    • Civil Court Actions: Allowing the postponement of civil lawsuits while on active duty.
    • Lease Termination: Permitting early termination of housing and automobile leases without penalty under certain conditions.

Tax Assistance

Service members can receive help with various tax-related issues:

  • Tax Preparation and Filing: Assistance in preparing and filing federal and state taxes, including understanding and applying military-specific tax breaks and deductions.
  • Resolving Tax Disputes: Guidance on resolving disputes with the IRS and state tax agencies.
  • Military-Specific Tax Breaks: Information on tax benefits specific to military service, such as combat zone exclusions and moving expense deductions.

Immigration Services

Legal assistance is available for service members and their families on immigration-related matters:

  • Citizenship Applications: Help with the process of applying for U.S. citizenship for service members and their family members.
  • Visa Issues: Assistance with obtaining and renewing visas for family members.
  • Other Immigration Matters: Guidance on other immigration-related concerns, including adjustment of status, green card applications, and travel restrictions.

Legal Assistance Offices

Navy Legal Service Command (NLSC)

  • Locations:
    • Washington Navy Yard, DC
      • Address: 1322 Patterson Ave SE, Suite 3000, Washington, DC 20374-5066
    • Naval Station Norfolk, VA
      • Address: 9620 Maryland Ave, Suite 100, Norfolk, VA 23511-2939
    • Naval Base San Diego, CA
      • Address: 3395 Sturtevant St, Suite 10, San Diego, CA 92136
  • Website: Navy Legal Services

Army Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG)

  • Locations:
    • Fort Belvoir, VA
      • Address: 9990 Belvoir Dr, Bldg. 257, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060
    • Fort Bragg, NC
      • Address: 2175 Reilly Rd, Stop A, Fort Bragg, NC 28310
    • Fort Hood, TX
      • Address: 52nd St & 761st Tank Battalion Ave, Fort Hood, TX 76544
  • Website: Army Legal Assistance

Air Force Legal Operations Agency (AFLOA)

  • Locations:
    • Joint Base Andrews, MD
      • Address: 1500 W Perimeter Rd, Joint Base Andrews, MD 20762
    • Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
      • Address: 50 Lemay Plaza South, Maxwell AFB, AL 36112
    • Peterson Air Force Base, CO
      • Address: 135 Dover St, Peterson AFB, CO 80914
  • Website: Air Force Legal Assistance

Marine Corps Judge Advocate Division

  • Locations:
    • Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA
      • Address: 3250 Catlin Ave, Quantico, VA 22134
    • Camp Lejeune, NC
      • Address: 2455 Khe Sanh St, Camp Lejeune, NC 28542
    • Camp Pendleton, CA
      • Address: Building 22161, Camp Pendleton, CA 92055
  • Website: Marine Corps Legal Assistance

Coast Guard Legal Service Command

  • Locations:
    • Washington, DC
      • Address: 2703 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, Washington, DC 20593
    • Norfolk, VA
      • Address: 4000 Coast Guard Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23521
    • Alameda, CA
      • Address: Coast Guard Island, Building 54B, Alameda, CA 94501
  • Website: Coast Guard Legal Assistance

Applicable Laws for Service Members

Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)

The UCMJ is the foundational set of laws that governs the conduct of U.S. military service members. It includes procedures for courts-martial, defines military crimes, and outlines the rights of the accused. For more information, visit the UCMJ Overview.

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)

The SCRA provides various protections to service members, including:

  • Reduced Interest Rates: Caps interest rates at 6% on debts incurred before entering active duty.
  • Eviction Protection: Prevents eviction without a court order if rent is below a certain threshold.
  • Civil Court Actions: Allows for the postponement of civil lawsuits during active duty.
  • Lease Termination: Permits early termination of housing and automobile leases without penalty under specific conditions. For more information, visit the SCRA Guide.

Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA)

MEJA extends U.S. federal criminal jurisdiction to crimes committed abroad by military personnel, contractors, and other individuals employed by or accompanying the Armed Forces. For more information, visit the MEJA Overview.

Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Laws

These laws provide benefits to veterans, including:

  • Disability Compensation: Monthly payments for service-related disabilities.
  • Pension Programs: Financial assistance for low-income veterans.
  • Educational Benefits: Funding for education through programs like the GI Bill. For more information, visit the VBA Benefits Guide.

Additional Resources

Legal Aid Societies and Pro Bono Services

Many states and localities offer legal aid societies and pro bono services specifically for military personnel. These organizations provide additional support and can help with a variety of legal issues not covered by military legal assistance offices.

Specialized Legal Programs

Tax Assistance Programs

  • Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA): Provides free tax help to service members. For more information, visit the IRS VITA.
  • Military OneSource Tax Services: Offers free tax preparation and filing software for service members. Military Tax Services | Military OneSource