Legal

Article 137 Brief
The Article 137 brief is held the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Wednesday of each month in the Education Center, Building 20, Room 310, at 9 a.m. Be sure to arrive at least 10 minutes early.
Tax Center
Service members are directed to use Military One Source's free tax filing service at http://www.militaryonesource.mil. (*Disclaimer- the legal office no longer provides tax assistance)

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Locations
Legal Assistance Eligibility
The Nellis AFB Legal Office can only provide legal assistance on personal and civil matters. We cannot assist clients with the following: any criminal matter, personal commercial enterprises or business, issues on behalf of third parties, representation in court or administrative hearing or the preparation of real estate documents or living trusts. Please seek outside counsel for these issues.
Represented by an Attorney?
If you are already represented by a civilian attorney for any matter on which you are seeking legal assistance, you must provide a written waiver or letter of consent from your attorney before seeing a legal assistance attorney.
Legal FAQ
Q: Who is eligible to access the services that the Legal Office provides?
A: The following is in reference to Title 10 U.S.C. Subsection 1044: Legal assistance

§1044. Legal assistance
(a) Subject to the availability of legal staff resources, the legal office may provide legal assistance in connection with their personal civil legal affairs to the following persons:
(1) Members of the armed forces who are on active duty.
(2) Members and former members entitled to retired or retainer pay or equivalent pay.
(3) Officers of the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service or the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who are on active duty or entitled to retired or equivalent pay.
(4) Members of reserve components not covered by paragraph (1) or (2) following release from active duty under a call or order to active duty for more than 30 days issued under a mobilization authority (as determined by the Secretary of Defense), for a period of time (prescribed by the Secretary) that begins on the date of the release and is not less than twice the length of the period served on active duty under that call or order to active duty.
(5) Dependents of members and former members described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4).
(6) Survivors of a deceased member or former member described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) who were dependents of the member or former member at the time of the death of the member or former member, except that the eligibility of such survivors shall be determined pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned.
(7) Civilian employees of the Federal Government serving in locations where legal assistance from non-military legal assistance providers is not reasonably available, except that the eligibility of civilian employees shall be determined pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned.

Additionally, all dependents MUST have a valid (non-expired) military identification card in order to access our services. We are unable to provide legal services via the active-duty member or retiree; i.e. an active duty or retiree member cannot be a pass-through for a person without a valid miliary I.D. to access Nellis Legal Office services.

Q: Does the Nellis Legal Office create trusts?
A: The Nellis Legal Office does not create trusts. Members/Retirees interested in creating a trust would need to independently seek assistance for trust creation off-base.

Q: Can the Nellis Legal Office actively represent members/retirees in legal matters?
A: The Nellis Legal Office cannot provide legal representation or participate in active litigation for members/retirees. While the Nellis Legal Office can provide general advice on many legal matters, our attorneys are unable to represent members/retirees in any legal matters. Members/Retirees interested in legal representation would need to independently seek legal counsel off-base.

Q: Does the Nellis Legal Office advise on civil criminal or military criminal matters?
A: The Nellis Legal Office does not advise on civil criminal matters. Members/Retirees interested in criminal representation/counsel would need to independently seek legal counsel off-base. Additionally, members involved in Military related discipline/criminal matters would contact the Area Defense Counsel (ADC) for legal assistance.

Q: Does the Nellis Legal Office refer members/retirees to off-base legal resources?
A: No, however the Nellis Legal Office has compiled a list of non-profit legal resources in the greater Las Vegas area who may be able to assist members/retirees in seeking legal representation.

Q: Does the Nellis Legal Office assist/advise members/retirees on business matters such as LLCs, Corporations or real estate matters?
A: The Nellis Legal Office is unable to provide direction on business or real estate legal matters.

Q: I am represented/have spoken to/hired a civilian attorney off-base about a legal matter may I also speak to a Nellis Legal Office attorney for additional advice?
A: If you are already represented by a civilian attorney for any matter on which you are seeking legal assistance, you must provide a written waiver or letter of consent from your attorney before seeing a legal assistance attorney.

Q: Does the Nellis Legal Office notarize home closing documents, trusts or wills created by off-base entities?
A: The Nellis Legal Office does not advise on real estate matters or trusts and cannot notarize documents relating to those matters. Additionally, while the Nellis Legal Office can draft and help execute wills for members and retirees, we cannot notarize wills created by outside legal entities.

Q: I am an active duty servicemember who wishes to seek off-duty employment (ODE), does the Nellis Legal Office review these inquiries?
A: Yes. Please direct any ODE questions to our org box via USAFWC.JA.LRR@US.AF.MIL

Q: I have an international document that requires Apostille certification. Does the Nellis Legal Office offer this service?
A: The Nellis Legal Office does not offer Apostille services. Please visit the Nevada Secretary of State webpage for more information regarding Apostille services via https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/businesses/ucc .

Legal Document Links

The Legal Office processes claims both for and against the Air Force. To file a claim with our office, please call (702) 652-2479.

For Household Goods claims, please contact the carrier first. If they do not respond in a timely manner, please contact the Air Force Claims Service Center.

If you are a Department of Defense civilian employee or a member of the armed forces, please be mindful of the fact that there are restrictions on certain political activities during election season. For helpful guidance on the do's and don'ts of political activity, please review the following pamphlets:

Military Political Activities
Civilian Political Activities

The Area Defense Counsel provides individual Air Force members independent legal representation. Airmen facing adverse administrative actions or who are suspected of committing an offense under the uniform code of military justice can receive confidential legal advice from an ADC. Do NOT contact the base legal office for these issues as everything you say can be used against you in court.

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. However, the Legal Office does not assist in the creation of trusts of any kind.

Examples of personal civil legal matters include adoption, dependent care, domestic relations, financial responsibility, Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, veteran’s reemployment rights, 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.

The highest priority is given to active-duty personnel who need mobilization- or deployment-related legal assistance.

Wills and Durable Medical Power of Attorney Creation:

Please completely read and follow the instructions below to schedule a will appointment for you (and/or your spouse/dependent).

Go to https://aflegalassistance.law.af.mil/apps/aflass_public/bin/main.php to create a will worksheet.

**Once you have completed the will worksheet you will receive a ticket number. It will be a combination of letters and numbers that are case-sensitive. Please be sure to save your ticket number as it will be needed to book your will appointment, if you do not submit your will ticket number when you book your appointment, your appointment will be cancelled.**

After you have a ticket number:

Click the link below and select an available appointment date/time slot. There will be additional instructions; please read them thoroughly.
Book an appointment here
If you would like to book a Will for yourself and your spouse, you will need to book two consecutive one (1) hour times slots with your name and your spouse/dependent’s name. If not, we will only execute only one will for the person who booked appointment.
If you are an active duty or reserve deployer and need a Will, please email usafwc.ja.legalassistance@us.af.mil and we will schedule your appointment directly.

*Note* If you are a retiree and the links above do not work for you, please see our “Legal Pamphlets” section for referrals to community services that may offer fee-free/sliding fee scale estate-planning resources.

For Legal Assistance:

Legal assistance is via appointment only. Please click the link below and select an available appointment date/time slot. There will be additional instructions, please read them thoroughly. **If you have an attorney we cannot provide legal assistance.**

https://nellislegal.setmore.com

Notary Services and Powers of Attorney:

Notary services and basic General and Specific ( aka Special) Power of Attorney documents are provided on a walk-in basis during are normal business hours which are as follows:

0900-1430 Mon-Wed, Thurs 0900-1200 and Friday 1000-1400

**We do NOT notarize Real Estate Closing or Mortgage Refinance documents. **

The Nellis Legal Office is unable to notarize wills or trusts prepared by outside legal sources. Additionally, we do not prepare trusts of any kind, nor are we able to offer any legal guidance or referrals to outside legal resources regarding trusts.

Front Desk Hours:
Monday-Wednesday: 9 a.m.- 2:30 pm
Thursday: 9 a.m. - Noon

CONTACT US:

ADC: 702-652-4034, Building 11, Suite 201 (next to TMO upstairs from Finance).

USAFWC/JA
4428 ENGLAND AVE BLDG 18
COMMERCIAL: (702) 652-2479
DSN: 682-2479
Legal Assistance Email: USAFWC.JA.LegalAssistance@us.af.mil
For Legal Review Requests Email: USAFWC.JA.LRR@us.af.mil

Officers interested in continuing to serve the Air Force as a Judge Advocate are invited to apply to the Funded Legal Education Program and Excess Leave Program.
For more information and application materials, visit www.airforce.com/jag or call 1-800-JAG-USAF.

NELLIS JUDGE ADVOCATE / BASE LEGAL OFFICE

Disclaimer

Legal Assistance Info

Claims

Political Activities

JAG Recruitment