COMDTINST 5801.4E
closely-held corporations). The lease or sale of a principal residence shall not be considered a
private income-producing matter for purposes of this Instruction.
c. Claims. Legal assistance providers may not advise or assist in the prosecution of any tort,
military, personnel, TRICARE/CHAMPUS or other monetary claim against the United States, or
the defense of any monetary claim by the United States against an individual, except as
authorized. Legal assistance providers may inform an interested person about the statute of
limitations, how to obtain claim forms or where to file them, and direct the claimant/potential
claimant to the appropriate claims office or provide referral assistance to retain civilian counsel.
d. Complex Estate Planning and Probate Matters. Clients requiring estate planning assistance
involving large or complex estates or other special considerations should be advised to seek
expert civilian assistance. Although legal assistance attorneys may provide general advice to
executors, administrators, trustees, and beneficiaries, they will not provide ongoing advice or
representation in probate matters.
e. In-Court Representation. Legal assistance providers may not provide in-court representation of
members except as permitted under the ELAP discussed in paragraph 10 below.
9. ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
a. Coast Guard Chief of Legal Assistance. The Chief of Legal Assistance serves under the
supervision of the Chief of Legal and Defense Services and is responsible for the overall
management of the Coast Guard Legal Assistance Program. The Chief of Legal Assistance
furnishes information about current developments in the law and delivery of services; directs
procedures and programs to be implemented by legal assistance attorneys; serves as liaison with
the American Bar Association, and other civilian bar associations; represents the Coast Guard as
a member of the Joint Service Committee on Legal Assistance; and manages the Coast Guard
Headquarters legal assistance office, which provides legal services to eligible clients in the
Washington, DC region.
b. Command Director of Legal Assistance. The Staff Judge Advocates of the following
organizations are designated as Command Directors of Legal Assistance and have the
responsibility for the delivery of legal assistance services within their respective commands and
local geographic areas of responsibility: Maintenance and Logistics Commands, Districts, and
Coast Guard Academy, Training Center Yorktown, Training Center Cape May, Maritime Law
Enforcement Academy, and the Coast Guard Yard. The Seventeenth District Staff Judge
Advocate is designated the Command Director of Legal Assistance for all of Alaska (including
Integrated Support Command Kodiak). Command Directors of Legal Assistance shall:
(1) Coordinate and provide legal assistance to geographically proximate eligible personnel who
are free to seek legal assistance from the nearest Coast Guard legal office. Full time legal
assistance attorneys should also engage in circuit riding and assist/supplement legal assistance
provided to their commands' outlying units.
(2) Determine the nature and extent of legal assistance to be made available based upon the office
workload, staff resources and expertise.
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