services

For services, each client MUST present a valid Armed Forces Military Identification card.

• Separation/Divorce services – E-5 and below or their eligible family members: Services for separation and/or divorce include advice, counseling, preparation of a property settlement agreement, and preparation of pro se divorce pleadings.
• Separation/Divorce services – E-6 and officers or their eligible family members: Services for separation and/or divorce include advice, counseling and referral to family law attorneys.
• Estate Planning Services: Estate Planning Services are available to active duty service members and their family members by appointment. The services include the preparation of wills, living wills, health care powers of attorney and springing durable general powers of attorney.
• Estate Planning Services – Retirees: Estate planning services are available for retirees and their eligible family members by a weekend appointment with a Reserve Judge Advocate. Appointments for retiree estate planning may be made by calling 703-784-3126/27.

• Survivor’s counseling
• Citizenship – active duty only
• Nonsupport/support counseling
• Child custody, support, and visitation counseling
• Paternity counseling
• Step-parent adoptions
• Landlord/Tenant issues
• Credit reporting, debt collection, bankruptcy
• Car contract issues
• Consumer fraud/ID theft
• Personal contract review, excluding real estate
• SCRA counseling
• Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
• Deployment briefings

Legal assistance is prohibited from providing advice:

• On personal business matters
• On criminal matters (traffic violations, DUI)
• On claims against the government
• On military justice or official military matters (courts-martial, NJP, admin boards)
• Over the telephone or via e-mail
• To opposing parties
• To third parties

Notary Services and Powers of Attorney

Due to a turnover in staff personnel, we currently have only one full-time commissioned Notary Public. Accordingly, notary services, including preparation of powers of attorney, will only be available on the following days at the designated times until further notice:

The power of attorney worksheet can be downloaded from this web site or completed in the office. We are unable to provide notarization of real estate closing documents. Please expect longer wait times for notaries and powers of attorney services.

PLEASE be advised that the person signing the document MUST be present and produce a valid military identification card. Additionally, a Notary Public cannot certify true:

• any vital records, such as birth, marriage or death certificates;
• documents in the custody of a court, such as divorce decrees;
• recordable documents, such as deeds or corporate records;
• certificates of naturalization;
• a document unless we view the original.

All documents must be signed in the presence of the Notary Public.

appointment procedures 

• Attorney services are provided by appointment only. Attorneys will NOT provide legal advice over the telephone.
• Appointments: Initial appointments are scheduled in person at the Legal Assistance Office on Monday mornings (Tuesday morning if Monday is a federal holiday) at 0730 for the current week. Please download and complete the Client Intake form (available on this website) and bring the completed form with you to schedule your appointment.
• Emergency appointments are made on a case-by-case basis.
• Follow-up appointments and appointments to execute estate planning documents are available by calling 703-784-3126/27.
• Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. All scheduled appointments are 45 minutes and follow-up appointments will be scheduled accordingly. If you cannot make your scheduled appointment, please call to cancel as far in advance as possible.
• Child Care: Legal Assistance cannot provide child care assistance during scheduled appointments. Clients need to make child care arrangements for the date/time of their appointment. Children are not permitted to attend the appointment with the attorney. If the client arrives for their appointment with children, their appointment will be canceled and rescheduled to enable the client to make child care arrangements.