WILLS

A will is a written legal declaration of how personal property should be distributed after death.

Anyone eligible for legal assistance can receive a free Will and medical directives, such as a Healthcare Power of Attorney and a Living Will.  Appointments are required for Wills.  Before we can schedule your appointment, you must first complete a Will Worksheet.  You may do this online at Air Force Legal Assistance Website and contact us with the ticket number (case-sensitive) or call our office and we will send you the information via email.  Please call us at 937-257-6142 for more details.

LEGAL ASSISTANCE

The Office of the Staff Judge Advocate provides legal services and advice free of charge to all Active-Duty personnel, Reservists and Guardsmen (while on Orders), and Retirees.  The spouses, dependents, and widows/widowers of these are also eligible for our services. 

Our staff can assist with wills, powers of attorney, notary services, or give advice on personal civil legal matters such as adoption, landlord-tenant issues, tax assistance, divorce/dissolution, and consumer law questions.

Our attorneys cannot represent clients in court, prepare personal legal documents for you (such as Transfer on Death Deeds), nor can they advise those who are already represented by a civilian attorney for the same subject matter. They cannot advise on criminal matters or UCMJ related offenses; please contact the Area Defense Counsel Office at 937-257-7841 for assistance.  Other prohibited topic matters include how to avoid paying a debt, private commercial business, or other outside business ventures.  

If you would like to speak with an attorney, please visit our office on Tuesdays from 0900 to 1100.  You do not need an appointment, and assistance will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Currently, we are not taking scheduled appointments.

NOTARY SERVICES

Our office provides free Notary Services to those who qualify (see above). 

Please do not sign your documents until you are in the presence of the notary.  Services are available at any time during regular business hours and do not require an appointment.

Our notaries have the right to refuse to notarize if the document is blank or incomplete or the signer cannot be properly identified. 

We are unable to certify copies of vital records.

POWERS OF ATTORNEY

With some planning, most people can usually handle their own affairs. However, there are times when you might need someone to act on your behalf during your absence.  A Power of Attorney authorizes someone, the agent, to do so.

A Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows another person to conduct legal actions on your behalf, such as selling a house or signing a check.  POAs are categorized as either Special (usually connected with a single transaction or event) or General (giving total power over another's legal affairs). Special Powers of Attorney drafted to fit individual needs on a one-time basis or for a limited period are usually your best choice. The Legal Assistance Office is prepared to draft both and will help you determine which one you need.

For more information about Powers of Attorney, you can visit the Air Force Legal Assistance Website. However, our system currently does not allow us to retrieve any Powers of Attorney completed online.  We are happy to complete those for you in our office and apologize for the inconvenience.

If you need any type of Power of Attorney, including medical, please visit our office at any time during regular business hours.  You do not need an appointment, and the documents can be drafted while you wait.

HOURS AND PHONE

For anything related to Legal Assistance, please call 937-257-6142.

We are aware that some people have difficulty reaching our office.  Phones are answered during regular business hours.  Due to the high call volume and the fact that we may be assisting clients at our window, we may not be able to answer every call immediately.  We apologize for the inconvenience and urge you to try again.  If you are unable to reach us by phone, you may also direct your inquiry to our OrgBox at 88ABW.JA@us.af.mil.

To schedule an appointment, call 937-257-6142.

• Monday: 9:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  • We are closed in the afternoons for training
  • WALK-IN LEGAL ASSISTANCE – Every Tuesday 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
• Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

EFMP

Do you feel as though your special needs child is not being given enough resources by the school? Do you need help understanding or enforcing your IEP? Does for child have a 504 plan and you have questions? A legal assistance attorney can assist you in navigating your child's EFMP needs. Call for a legal assistance appointment and an attorney will be assigned to help your family.

OFF DUTY EMPLOYMENT

Approval via an Air Force Form 3902 (click link for download) is required for all Off Duty Employment. Please complete that form and email to our org box: 88abw.ja@us.af.mil. Please call 937-257-6142 with any questions.

POWERS OF ATTORNEY
With some planning, most people can usually handle their own affairs. However, there are times when you might need someone to act as your agent in your absence, to handle a particular piece of business. If you appoint someone to act for you, you do so by giving him or her your power of attorney.

A power of attorney is a legal document that allows another to conduct legal actions on your behalf (such as selling a house) and can be either special (usually connected with a single transaction or event) or general (total power over another's legal affairs). Special powers of attorney drafted to fit individual needs on a one-time basis or for a limited period of time are usually your best choice. The Legal Office is prepared to draft both.

For more information about Powers of Attorney, or to fill out a Power of Attorney Questionnaire prior to your arrival at the base legal office, you can visit the Air Force Legal Assistance Website. 

WILL ASSISTANCE
A will is a written legal declaration of how personal property should be distributed after death. The Legal Office can assist eligible military and family members in preparing a will.  Before making an appointment, members should review Will Considerations For Military Families fact sheet and complete a Will Questionnaire located on the Air Force Legal Assistance Website.            

Provide a completed Will Questionnaire to the Legal Assistance office at least one business day prior to your scheduled appointment via email at 88abw.ja@us.af.mil. Failure to provide a completed Will Questionnaire may result in cancellation of your will appointment.