Tinker Air Force Base

Legal Services/JAG
Tinker Legal Office
Tinker Air Force Base, OK 73145
Phone 405-739-5811
Attorney visits Monday or Thursday, 8:30am to 11:00am; Wednesday, 1:30pm to 3:30pm 
Notary Services/Power of Attorneys Monday thru Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm; Thursday 8:00am to 3:00pm
Sat and Sun - closed
Holidays - closed

Legal Services

The legal office can provide helpful general information and guidance on personal legal matters to those eligible for legal assistance services. Active duty members and retirees plus their dependents are eligible for these services. Air Force Legal Assistance and Preventive Law Programs are governed by Air Force Instruction (AFI) 51-504 and Air Force Policy Directive (AFPD) 51-5.

Personnel Services

The front desk clerk provides notary services, manages legal assistance, meets and greets all potential legal clients and provides administrative assistance to other office divisions. She is also the office security manager, tracking individual security clearances and managing all security announcements.

Eligibility

Legal assistance is provided in a private office setting during walk-in hours only. Air Force policy prohibits the provision of legal assistance over the telephone or without first verifying eligibility for this service. As with other base services, eligibility is determined by your military identification card which you are required to present at each visit to the office. In order to qualify for Legal Assistance from this office, you must fall into one of the following categories:

• Active Duty Members
• Dependents of Active Duty
• Retired Military
• Dependents of Retired Military
• Guardsman (dependents when on Title 10)
• Reservist (dependents when on Title 10)
• Non re-married Former Spouse of Active Duty

Types of Service

Areas of the law in which legal assistance is provided include:

1. Bankruptcy
2. Child support issues
3. Consumer protection
4. Domestic relations
5. Landlord-tenant issues
6. Leases
7. Name changes
8. Powers of attorney
9. Real estate sales
10. Small claims court
11. Wills
12. Notary

Wills and Powers of Attorney

Much of the time of the legal assistance staff is spent preparing wills and powers of attorney, particularly for military members facing mobilization. In addition to ensuring their financial and other affairs are in order, active duty members and reservists are well-advised to obtain a will and power of attorney that reflects their current wishes for the disposition and management of their property. Remember that your designation of beneficiaries in your will does not determine who is entitled to the proceeds of your life insurance policy. Periodically review the designation in your policy to ensure it reflects your current wishes as well.

Legal Service Guides

In addition to offering private legal counseling, the Legal Office offers guides prepared by the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate on topics frequently asked about by its patrons. They include:

• Small Claims Court
• Door to Door Sales
• Car Repairs
• Dealing with Unexpected Death
• Credit Fraud
• Legal Residence and Domicile
• Used Car Purchases
• Fair Credit Billing
• New Car Purchases

These guides provide useful information that may be picked up during regular office hours, and reviewed either after or in lieu of receiving legal assistance on the topics covered.

Juvenile Assistant Council

Apart from its traditional function of providing private legal counseling, the Legal Assistance Branch is tasked with monitoring the Juvenile Assistant Council on Tinker Air Force Base. This Council reviews incidents involving juveniles that occur on the base and takes appropriate action aimed at protecting both property and persons within the jurisdiction of the installation.

Services Not Provided

It must be remembered that the Legal Office cannot solve all your legal problems and, at times, must advise you to consult a private attorney at your own expense. Areas in which legal assistance cannot be provided include:

1. Issues involving personal commercial enterprises
2. Criminal issues under the UCMJ or state/federal criminal law
3. Standards of Conduct issues
4. Official matters in which the USAF has an interest
5. Legal issues or concerns raised on behalf of another person
6. Representation of a client in a court or administrative proceedings
7. Answers to questions and providing initial advice and referrals on complex legal issues.

Although the Legal Assistance Branch cannot prepare legal documents for court, we can assist you by interpreting legal documents and correspondence received from other parties, providing answers to specific legal.