Free legal assistance offered

By Fort Sill Office of the Staff Judge AdvocateSeptember 13, 2012

The Fort Sill Office of the Staff Judge Advocate will again offer legal assistance to retired service members and spouses attending the 34th Retiree Appreciation Days Sept. 20-22.

Retirees are urged to schedule legal assistance appointments in advance on Sept. 20 or 21. To provide the best services, each spouse will see separate attorneys and will require individual appointments. The legal assistance office is in the Welcome Center, Building 4700 Mow-Way Road, fourth floor.

Attorneys will prepare wills, advance directives, medical and durable powers of attorney and provide legal advice to retirees on other matters of interest providing customers an opportunity to put their legal affairs in order. Retirees may call 442-5058/5059 to schedule individual appointments and request a packet that will need to be completed before their appointments.

An advance directive, or living will, is a valuable document informing family members and health care providers of the life-sustaining treatment one wants to receive or decline if terminally ill, persistently unconscious or suffering from the end stage of a progressive, deteriorating disease.

Organ donation may also be elected if desired.

A power of attorney legally empowers an individual to act on behalf of another. A durable power of attorney remains effective even if the principal becomes incapacitated or incompetent and allows the person named to make decisions and act during periods of incapacity. This may help avoid what could otherwise be an expensive guardianship or conservatorship proceeding for an incapacitated or incompetent adult.

Preparing your estate plan includes making advance decisions about end-of-life treatment and appointing who will act for you if you become unable to make decisions for yourself. This can provide personal peace of mind and relieve family members of making difficult decisions at times of great stress.

There is no charge to retirees for these services.