WELCOME!

To the Ellsworth Air Force Base Legal Office

DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THIS WEBPAGE IS OF A GENERAL NATURE AND IS PROVIDED FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND CONVENIENCE.  IT IS NOT INTENDED AS LEGAL ADVICE AND IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEGAL COUNSEL.  IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AS TO HOW THE LAW IN THIS AREA AFFECTS YOU OR YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS, CONTACT YOUR CIVILIAN ATTORNEY OR THE ELLSWORTH.

LEGAL ASSISTANCE

The Ellsworth Legal Assistance Office provides legal assistance in connection with personal civil legal matters to support and sustain command effectiveness and readiness. Under 10 U.S.C. §1044, the ability to offer legal assistance and legal services to the eligible categories of personnel is contingent upon the availability of legal staff resources and expertise. Although legal assistance is not separately funded, it has been provided for members of the armed forces since 1943 and is now perceived as one of the benefits of military service.

The Legal Office provides free legal assistance regarding personal civil legal matters to eligible beneficiaries, including active duty or retired military members and their dependents.

Examples of personal civil legal matters include adoption, dependent care, domestic relations, financial responsibility, Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), landlord-tenant, and casualty affairs. Legal assistance attorneys can provide legal advice, conduct general review of documents, draft correspondence, and assist clients in preparing forms. Legal assistance attorneys cannot, however, represent clients in any court or administrative proceedings or draft or file legal documents with a court.

General Information

LEGAL ASSISTANCE LIMITATIONS

SCOPE OF SERVICE -

The Legal Assistance Program offers counseling for personal civil matters only. Legal assistance attorneys cannot represent clients in court, prepare or file documents with a court, nor can they advise persons who have hired a civilian attorney on the same subject matter. They cannot advise about criminal matters, or Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) related offenses, (active-duty members with these issues should contact the Area Defense Counsel Office) nor can they assist someone to avoid paying a debt or advise someone regarding a private business and other outside employment. They are also prohibited from preparing personal legal documents on behalf of those eligible, except for wills, powers of attorney, and affidavits.

ELIGIBILITY -

To qualify for Legal Assistance you must have a valid military identification card and fall into one of the following categories:

  • Active-Duty Military Members and their dependents
  • Reserve and Guard Members who are on active duty and their dependents.
  • Retired military members and their dependents. If you are a "gray area" retired reservist or guardsman or a dependent of one of them, you must be receiving retirement pay to be eligible for service. Please note you must have a military ID card to be eligible.
  • Other individuals in unique circumstances may be eligible if they have a valid military identification card.

PRIORITY -

Our primary goal and priority is to ensure members and their families are prepared for deployment.  That means the legal offices works with members to ensure everything is in order.  This includes the preparation of wills, advance medical directives (living will and medical power of attorney), general/special powers of attorney, and assisting in arrangement to help support service members and their families.  If you or a family member is deploying soon, please make every effort to schedule an appointment as soon receiving deployment notification

ESTATE PLANNING

BASIC WILL – explains what you would like to happen to your body and property in the event of your death and designates an executor (also known as a personal representative) to carry out your wishes.  If you are a parent with minor or dependent children, the basic will also allow you to designate a guardian for your children.

LIVING WILL/ ADVANCE MEDICAL DIRECTIVE – explains your desires regarding life-sustaining medical treatment if you are terminally ill, in a persistent vegetative state, or near death.

HEALTH CARE POA – designates an authorized Health Care Agent over your person.  This document allows another person to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to make them yourself, typically due to a serious medical condition (e.g. coma).

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Before coming into our office for service, please complete our web-based Este Planning Package located on the Air Force Legal Assistance Website. To navigate the website, select “Legal Worksheets" and click the "Create Estate Planning Package" button.  Answer all questions and be sure to capture the ticket number once finished.  NOTE: If you are married, individual worksheets should be completed for you and your spouse.

  • Estate Planning Appointments are scheduled on Wednesdays from 1000 – 1200.

  • Each appoint is 30 Minutes long during which you will have the opportunity to speak with the drafting attorney and ask any questions you may have.

  • Prior to your appointment, a paralegal will contact you via email to provide you will the initial draft of your Estate Planning Package.

  • You will be required to read and review your Will and other documents and communicate any significant changes you need made to the providing paralegal.

  • Already have your ticket. Head over to our REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT section and submit an appointment form with your new Estate Planning ticket information! We will reach back out to you as soon as possible to schedule an appointment.

POWERS OF ATTORNEY STATEMENT

A power of attorney is a legal document that allows another to conduct legal actions on your behalf (such as selling a house or registering a car) 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 are usually the best choice because they are drafted to fit individual needs on a one-time basis or for a limited period.  The Legal Office is prepared to draft both.  For more information see the Powers of Attorney Fact Sheet in the Library section of this website.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Before coming into our office for service, please complete our web-based Power of Attorney worksheet located on the Air Force Legal Assistance Website. To navigate the website, select “Legal Worksheets" and click the "Create Power of Attorney (POA) Worksheet" button.  Answer all questions and be sure to capture the ticket number once finished.

Only need a single POA?  You may walk in during our hours of operation.

Need more than one POA?  Head over to our REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT section and submit an appointment form with your new POA ticket information! We will reach back out to you as soon as possible.

NOTARY STATEMENT

Notary services are available on a walk-in basis during all hours of operation.

Monday – Thursday: 0900 – 1600

Friday: 1000 – 16000

CLOSED on Federal Holidays and AFGSC Family Days

CLOSED on the first Wednesday of each month for Bomb Wing Training

CLOSED on Official office Functions (TBD)

LEGAL ASSISTANCE FEEDBACK

We are always striving to improve our customer service. If you have visited our office recently for Legal Assistance, please take the time to complete our feedback survey located on the Air Force Legal Assistance Website.