Advice on legal rights and obligations before, during, and after divorce or separation. Available services typically include reviewing separation agreements, explaining the legal implications of child custody and support, advising on the division of property and military pensions, and clarifying protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Additionally, legal assistance attorneys can provide general guidance on state-specific family law processes.

Learn more about Divorce & Separation.

Advice on state-specific child custody laws, visitation rights, and the legal process for establishing paternity. Services include reviewing proposed parenting plans, explaining military family support obligations, advising on DNA testing procedures, and providing referrals to qualified civilian counsel for court proceedings.

Learn more about Custody & Paternity.

Guidance regarding the adoption process and on step-parent, domestic, and international adoptions. Services include reviewing adoption agency contracts, explaining legal rights and state requirements, drafting supporting legal documents (such as powers of attorney), and providing information on the DoD Adoption Reimbursement Program.

Learn more about Adoption.

Services include explaining state-specific filing requirements, assisting with the preparation of name change petitions for both adults and minors, and advising on how to update official military records (such as DEERS and NSIPS) once the change is legally finalized.

Learn more about Name Change.

Under Navy regulations (specifically MILPERSMAN 1754-030), service members are required to provide financial support to their spouses and children in the absence of a court order or mutual agreement. While military attorneys cannot represent individuals in civilian child or spousal support court proceedings, they can calculate interim support requirements using Navy standards, draft voluntary support agreements, and advise on the administrative or command-directed consequences of non-support.

Learn more about Nonsupport.

A Family Care Plan is a plan for service members who are single parents, dual-member couples with dependents, and some other service members responsible for dependents under certain circumstances. A Family Care Plan shows how your family will be cared for in your absence — whether you are deployed, on temporary duty, or otherwise unavailable because of military obligations. It allows for a smooth transition of responsibilities to a caregiver when a service member must leave for short or long periods of time and ensures that the child is well taken care of through an arrangement that will remain constant and strong throughout the duration of the deployment.

Learn more about Family Care Plans.

These services ensure that healthcare preferences (living wills) and designated healthcare decision-makers (healthcare powers of attorney) are legally documented and recognized by civilian and military medical facilities in the event of an emergency or incapacitation.

Learn more about Advanced Medical Directives.

Unlike standard powers of attorney, a durable power of attorney remains legally valid if the principal becomes mentally or physically incapacitated. Navy legal assistance attorneys can prepare and execute these documents, allowing clients to designate a trusted agent to manage financial, business, real estate, and personal affairs during deployments, training cycles, or medical emergencies.

Learn more about Durable Powers of Attorney.

Services include drafting legally binding basic Last Wills and Testaments, designating guardians for minor children, and establishing testamentary trusts to manage assets for young beneficiaries.

Learn more about Wills & Basic Estate Planning.

Services include advice on combat zone tax exclusions, tax filing extensions for deployed personnel, and state residency rules under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (MSRRA). On-base VITA centers can review basic tax returns, assist with responding to simple IRS or state tax authority notices, and help resolve minor tax disputes.

Learn more about Basic Tax Advice.

Under Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) pays a lifetime payment each month to eligible surviving family members upon the service-connected death of an active duty or retired service member. DIC payments may be available for surviving spouses who have not remarried— or spouses who remarried after age 57 between December 16, 2003, and January 4, 2021, or remarried after age 55 on or after January 5, 2021—, unmarried children under age 18, children between the ages of 18 and 23 if attending a VA-approved school, and low-income parents of deceased service members or veterans.

Learn more about VA Survivor Benefits.

Services include reviewing loan contracts, explaining SCRA rights, including the 6% interest rate cap on pre-service debt, and advise on protections under the Military Lending Act (MLA). While military attorneys cannot represent clients in civil courts or civilian bankruptcy proceedings, they can draft dispute letters to creditors, advise on fair debt collection practices, and help resolve issues related to predatory lending.

Learn more about Loans and Indebtedness.

Guidance for clients who have fallen victim to consumer fraud, scams, or unfair business practices. Military attorneys can review purchase contracts, explain consumer rights under federal and state laws, and advise on steps to resolve disputes involving auto sales, rental agreements, or online scams. Services include drafting formal demand letters, and guidance on how to submit official complaints to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or state Attorneys General.

Learn more about Consumer Fraud.

Services include navigating rental agreements and resolving landlord-tenant disputes. Services include reviewing residential leases prior to signing and explaining tenant protections under state laws and the SCRA, specifically the right to terminate a lease early upon receiving PCS or deployment orders. Legal assistance attorneys can also draft formal lease termination notices, advice on security deposit recovery, and assist in drafting dispute letters regarding maintenance and habitability issues.

Learn more about Landlord-tenant Relations.

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) may provide some protection for service members and their dependents faced with a possible eviction. Under the SCRA, a landlord may not evict a service member or his or her dependents without a court order, if it is the SMs primary residence and the monthly rent does not exceed $2,400 or SM is subject to distress during the period of military service.

Learn more about Eviction.

Although military attorneys cannot represent clients or appear in civilian small claims courts, they can provide pre-litigation guidance. Services include evaluating the strength of a claim or defense, explaining local small claims court rules and jurisdictional limits, advising on how to gather and organize evidence, and helping draft demand letters or court-compliant statements of claim.

Learn more about Small Claims Court.

Guidance on the legal differences between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings. Services include evaluating alternatives to bankruptcy (such as debt negotiation or SCRA protections), explaining the potential impact of a bankruptcy filing on military careers and security clearances, and providing referrals to qualified civilian bankruptcy attorneys.

Learn more about Bankruptcy.

Military attorneys can help victims navigate the recovery process, explain their rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and assist in drafting dispute letters to credit bureaus, financial institutions, and debt collectors.

Learn more about Identity Theft.

Buying, renting, and repairing automobiles can be expensive, complex, or both. Legal Assistance attorneys can assist service members with legal or potential legal issues that arise surrounding automobiles and the sections below offer helpful information for several subjects regarding automobiles.

Learn more about Automobile Topics.

Special provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) authorize U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to expedite the application and naturalization process for current members of the U.S. armed forces and veterans Immigration and naturalization support for spouses of service members is also available.

Learn more about Immigration.

The Navy's Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) serves Navy families with special needs. Enrollment in the EFMP is mandatory for members with qualifying dependents and ensures service members are assigned only to those geographic areas where the medical and/or educational needs of their family member(s) can be met. Navy Legal Assistance attorneys at Navy installations will assist families with special education law interpretation and may refer families to the American Bar Association (ABA) as needed pro bono.

Learn more about EFMP.

Services include helping victims obtain Military Protective Orders (MPOs) and civilian protective orders (CPOs), advising on transitional compensation for abused dependents, and coordinating with Victim Advocates and the Family Advocacy Program (FAP). Victims’ Legal Counsel (VLCs) represent victim interests during military investigations and courts-martial.

Learn more about Domestic Violence and Other Crime Victims.

A Sojourner Permit is an Italian government document that certifies that a NATO-Force military dependent or member of the civilian component is a temporary legal resident of Italy. Italian law requires all foreign personnel entering Italy, other than an active duty member on military orders, to obtain a Sojourner Permit. Application packages can be delivered to RLSO EURAFCENT Legal Assistance office.

Learn more about Sojourners Permits (Italy).

The NATO Status of Forces Agreement, which was originally signed in 1951, provides the basis for the legal status of military, U.S. civilian employees and dependents who are stationed on orders in NATO partner countries. Under NATO SOFA in Italy, dependents of members of the Armed Forces and dependents of members of the Civilian Component are issued missione visas and missione soggiorno permits to legalize their presence in Italy. Dependents who fall under the provisions of the NATO SOFA are NOT considered ordinary residents of Italy.

Learn more about SOFA Issues (Italy).

Dependents of members of the U.S. armed forces and civilian components are eligible to acquire Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) status. Dependents under SOFA are defined as spouses, children under 21 or parents and children over 21 if dependent for over half of their support upon their sponsor.

Learn more about SOFA Issues (Japan).