Staff Judge Advocate & Legal
31FW improving the First 31 minutes, hours, & days before, upon & after arrival

Before Arrival
Upon Arrival
After Arrival
Pre Departure
Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) & Legal Office
From international law to tax centers and Legal Offices, the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate provides legal services to commanders and their staff, military law enforcement, Airmen, retirees, civilian employees, and their families. Legal assistance attorneys serving in the Aviano Legal Office also have the additional dimension of hands-on experience in Italian law.
Legal Services
Walk-in services for Power of Attorneys and Notaries are available. The legal office offers appointments on variety of topics to include, but not limited to the following examples:
- Wills [Must complete the Will worksheet]
- Advance medical directives and health care powers of attorney [POA]
- Debt collection/credit reporting problems
- Identity theft
- Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
- Immigration and Naturalization
- Separation and divorce counseling
- Italian legal issues such as traffic tickets
- During the tax season, the Legal Assistance Office operates a Tax Center
What is SCRA?
In 2003, President Bush signed the Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA) into law which replaced and expanded the former Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act (SSCRA) from 1940.
The SCRA offers many protections to activity duty service members ranging from mortgages to interest rates. The SCRA can come into play in matters relating to:
- Banking
- Foreclosures & Mortgages
- Auto loans
- Leases & Contracts
- Legal Proceedings
- Family Law Considerations
- Taxation
- Voting
For a summary of SCRA protections visit: Military OneSource
For more detailed examples of SCRA protections, visit: Military Officer’s Association of America (MOAA)
Before Arrival Topics
- First 31 PCS Start
- Getting Started
- Command Sponsorship
- EFMP Screening
- Passports & Visas
- Book Lodging
- Book Travel
- Traveling with Pets
- Shipping Household Goods
- Shipping Vehicle
- Set Up Overseas P.O. Box
- Child Care & Youth Programs Prep
- School Registration Prep
- Legal Services
- Cell Phones & Keeping in Touch
- Credit Cards