NLSO North Central | U.S. Navy JAG Corps

Naval Legal Service Office (NLSO) North Central

Mission

NLSO North Central is a customer service organization providing legal services to active duty Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard service members and their dependents, reservists on active duty for 30 days or more, to retirees as resources permit and, under limited circumstances, Department of Defense (DoD) personnel deploying overseas. The primary mission is to provide legal service to support fleet operational readiness. The highest priority will be given to fleet and operational units, particularly those deployed or preparing to deploy.

Area of Responsibility

We provide service in 23 states; North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine; as well as the District of Columbia and Canada.

Walk-in Procedure

Defense clients, those being suspected or accused of misconduct or being subjected to administrative proceedings, may walk in for consultation with Defense Counsel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 1330 and 1600. During walk-in hours, service members have the opportunity to consult with defense counsel regarding pre Non-Judicial-Punishment advice, summary court-martial advice, Article 138 and 1150 complaints, administrative separation advice, hardship discharges and suspect’s rights.

Although defense counsel is available for consultation, a service member will not be assigned a specific attorney nor will an attorney-client relationship be formed. If you are coming to see an attorney as a walk-in, you must bring any documents given to you related to the reason for seeking advice.

Legal Assistance clients (those with legal issues other than the above), should make appointments to meet with counsel by calling (202) 685-5580 / 5569.

Attorney-Client Relationship with Walk-in Clients

Generally, attorney-client relationships will not be formed with walk-in clients and the client will be so informed. Normally, an attorney is assigned to represent you only after court-martial charges are preferred against you, administrative separation proceedings are formally begun against you or a formal accusation has been made. Other types of military justice issues will be considered for personal representation on a case-by-case basis.

Telephone Policy

It is Commander Naval Legal Service Command (CNLSC) Policy that no legal advice to prospective defense or legal assistance clients is given over the telephone or through third parties calling on behalf of prospective clients absent exigent circumstances, such as prospective clients in remote locations. Prospective clients who are unable to appear at our walk-in hours or an appointment should call our office for further guidance.

Legal Services Provided

Please review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) before evaluating the topics below.

Legal Assistance

Please complete our:
Legal Assistance Client Intake Questionnaire

Consumer / Financial Affairs
- Automobiles
  - Buying an Automobile
  - Drivers License Extensions
  - Leasing an Automobile
  - Renting an Automobile
  - Automobile Repairs
  - Automobile Repossession
  - Automobile Repossession – Redemption Rights
  - Automobile Service Contracts
- Consumer Fraud
- Contracts
- Co-signing a Loan
- Credit Protection
- Consumer Credit
- Contracts and Consumer Scams
- Door-to-door Sales
- Fair Credit Billing Act
- Fair Credit Reporting Act
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
- Federal Trade Commission
- Identity Theft
- Interest Rates
- Military Sentinel
- Money Matters
- Online Internet Auctions
- Telemarketing Fraud
Deployment Readiness
- Mobilization / Demobilization
- Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
Family Law
- Adoption
  - Adoption Overview
  - Adoption Reimbursement Options
    - Adoption Income Tax Credit
    - Department of Defense (DoD) Adoption Reimbursement Program
  - Foreign Adoption Issues
- Community Property
- Dependent Support
  - Child & Family Support
    - DoD Family Support Guidelines
      - U.S. Air Force Family Support Guidelines
      - U.S. Army Family Support Guidelines
      - U.S. Coast Guard Family Support Guidelines
      - U.S. Marine Corps Family Support Guidelines
      - U.S. Navy Family Support Guidelines
    - State Child Support Guidelines
  - Child Custody
    - Child Custody Overview
    - Child Custody Relocation Issues
    - International Child Custody Issues
  - Paternity
- Divorce and Separation
  - Divorce & Separation Overview
  - Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act (USFSPA)
- Family Care Plans
- Garnishment
- Guardianship
- Involuntary Allotments
- Locating Service Members
- Modifications of Out-of-state Child Custody and Child Support Orders
- Marriage
- Name Change
- Navy Dependent Support
- Orders to Show Cause
Immigration (See Immigration & Naturalization FAQ and Navy Immigration Guide)
- Family Member Citizenship & Travel
- Foreign Adoptions
- Immigration – Becoming a Legal Permanent Resident
- Immigration – Citizenship
Military Benefits
- Article 139 Claims
- Casualty Assistance
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
- Education
- Family Advocacy Program
- Identification Cards
- Insurance
  - Long Term Care Insurance
  - Service Members Group Life Insurance (SGLI)
  - Veteran Group Life Insurance (VGLI)
- Medical / Dental / Tricare
- Military Pay
- Social Security
- Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)
- Thrift Savings Plan
- Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act
- Uniformed Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act: Benefits
- VA Survivor Benefits
- VA Education Benefits
- VA Mortgage Guarantees
Notary
Powers of Attorney (or see Power of Attorney Worksheet)
Real Property
- Landlord-Tenant
- Lease Agreements
- Real Estate – Personal
- Renting
  - Basics of Renting
  - Eviction Process
  - Habitability & Repairs
  - Military Clauses and Leases
  - Renting – Potential Problems and Pitfalls
  - Rent Increases
  - Security Deposits
  - Terminating a Lease
Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
Small Claims Court
Voting
- Absentee Voting
Wills & Estate Planning
- Estate Planning
- Health Care Issues
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Powers of Attorney – Estate Planning
- Wills & Other Means of Passing Property
  - Life Insurance
  - Trusts
    - Trusts for benefit of children
    - Trusts for tax avoidance
  - Wills

Defense

Physical Evaluation Boards (PEBs)

Representation of Service Members Facing PEB Hearings
Advice to Service Members in the MEB / PEB Process
Advice and Consultation with NLSO / RLSO Attorneys Advising Clients, re: MEB / PEB Process

Tax Assistance Program

Personal Income Tax
Residence / Domicile
Taxation Deployment & Exclusions
Change of Address
Extension of Time to File Taxes

				NLSO North Central HQ
				
					Mailing Address:
					1250 10th ST Bldg #200 Suite 1600
					Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5016
					Phone Numbers:
					Comm: (202) 685-5569 / 5580
					DSN: 325
					Fax: (202) 685-5542
					Hours:
					0800 – 1630 
					Monday – Friday
					Directions:
					Please contact the NLSO office directly for directions and parking information.
				
			

Detachments, Branch & Satellite Offices

Detachment Great Lakes
Area of Responsibility:: The NLSO North Central Detachment Great Lakes primary geographic area of responsibility is Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Provinces of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Northwest Territories of Canada.
Mailing Address:: 250 Paul Jones St.; Bldg 2, Suite 100; Great Lakes, IL 60088-2936
Phone Numbers:: Comm: (847) 688-4753; DSN: 792; Fax: (847) 688-4754
Hours:: 0800 – 1630; Monday – Friday
Appointments:: Please call for appointments and walk-in hours.

Detachment Groton
Area of Responsibility:: The NLSO North Central Detachment Groton’s primary geographic area of responsibility includes all of New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Northeastern Territories of Canada.
Mailing Address:: Naval Submarine Base New London; Box 10, Bldg. 84; Groton, CT 06349-5010
Phone Numbers:: Comm: (860) 694-3741; DSN: 694; Fax: (860) 694-2628
Hours:: 0800 – 1630; Monday – Friday
Appointments:: Please call for appointments and walk-in hours.

Branch Office Newport
Mailing Address:: 360 Elliot St.; Newport, RI 02841
Phone Numbers:: Comm: (401) 841-3766; DSN: 948; Fax: (401) 841-3227
Hours:: 0800 – 1630; Monday – Friday
Appointments:: Please call for appointments and walk-in hours.

Branch Office Earle
Mailing Address:: Naval Weapons Station; 201 Highway 34 South; Coltsneck, NJ 07722-5016
Phone Numbers:: Comm: (732) 866-2066; DSN: 449; Fax: (732) 866-1066
Hours:: 0800 – 1630; Monday – Friday
Appointments:: Please call for appointments and walk-in hours.

Branch Office Memphis
Mailing Address:: 5722 Integrity Drive; Millington, TN 38054
Phone Numbers:: Comm: (901) 874-5308 / 9
Hours:: 0800 – 1600; Monday – Friday
Appointments:: Please call for appointments and walk-in hours.

Bethesda NLSO – National Naval Medical Center
Mailing Address:: 8901 Wisconsin Ave.; Bldg. 11, Room 116; Bethesda, MD 20889-5000
Phone Numbers:: Comm: (301) 295-6052; DSN: 295; Fax: (301) 295-5712
Hours:: 0700 – 1530; Monday – Friday
Appointments:: Please call for appointments and walk-in hours.

Annapolis Legal Assistance Office & United States Naval Academy
Mailing Address:: 130 Fullam Court; Dahlgren Hall; Annapolis, MD 21402
Phone Numbers:: Comm: (410) 293-2268; DSN: 281; Fax: (410) 293-5388
Hours:: 0800 – 1600; Monday – Friday
Appointments:: Please call for appointments and walk-in hours

NLSO North Central offers limited legal assistance services at the following locations.: Please call the corresponding phone numbers for information and appointments.
Pentagon: Comm: (202) 685-5580 / 69
Patuxent River Naval Air Station: Comm: (202) 685-5569
Dahlgren Naval Station: Comm: (800) 500-4947; Please note these services are for Legal Assistance only. Defense clients at these locations should contact (202) 685-5580 for further guidance. Thank you.

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U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps

Legal Services