Choosing a Lawyer in San Antonio: A Guide for Military Families

San Antonio is home to Joint Base San Antonio, which brings together JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, JBSA-Lackland and JBSA-Randolph. That means a lot of local legal questions come from active-duty members, retirees, veterans and their families, and those questions often sit where Texas law meets federal military rules. A divorce can involve military retired pay. A lease can be affected by orders to move. A criminal charge can raise the question of whether a veterans court is an option.

This guide is built around those situations, though most of it applies to anyone looking for a lawyer in Bexar County. It is general information, not legal advice. If you already know you need a civilian attorney, you can browse law firms in San Antonio on Directory For USA while you read.

If you have a military ID, start on base

Before paying for a civilian lawyer, check whether you can use free military legal assistance. According to Military OneSource's JBSA legal assistance page, the Staff Judge Advocate's offices provide legal assistance to active-duty members, their dependents, retirees and retirees' dependents. Free services include legal advice, basic wills, notary services and powers of attorney.

There are legal offices at Lackland, Randolph and Fort Sam Houston, and some services are walk-in while others need an appointment, so call first. Ask the legal assistance attorney whether they can help with your whole matter or whether you will need a civilian attorney, for example to represent you in a contested case in a Bexar County court.

Family law for military families

Divorce and custody cases in San Antonio are heard by the Bexar County civil district courts, based at the Bexar County Courthouse at 100 Dolorosa downtown. Texas family law decides most of the case, but military families have a few extra layers that are worth raising with any lawyer you interview.

Military retired pay

A federal law, the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act, recognizes the authority of state courts to divide military retired pay in a divorce. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) explains on its former spouse protection page that for DFAS to pay a former spouse's share directly, the couple generally must have been married at least 10 years overlapping with at least 10 years of creditable service, and the award must be stated as a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of disposable retired pay. How the order is worded matters a great deal, so ask a prospective lawyer how many military divorces they have handled.

Survivor benefits

Former spouse coverage under the military Survivor Benefit Plan is handled separately from the retired pay award. DFAS notes that a former spouse's deemed election request must be submitted within one year of the court order that requires the coverage. A lawyer who knows military divorces should raise this deadline without being asked.

Deployments, moves and money

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act gives active-duty members certain protections in areas such as interest rates, residential and vehicle leases, evictions and foreclosures. If orders, a deployment or a move to a new duty station is affecting a custody schedule, a lease or a debt, mention it in your first conversation.

Veterans: free help and a special court

• Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) provides free civil legal services to eligible residents of 68 Southwest Texas counties, including Bexar County, and has a San Antonio office on Console Drive. Its practice areas include veterans and military benefits, family law, housing, and wills and probate, and its Veterans Advocacy Project holds legal clinics for eligible veterans in San Antonio. Apply through TRLA's central intake line or website.
• Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans is a State Bar of Texas program in which local bar associations organize free legal clinics for veterans who cannot afford a lawyer, covering issues such as housing, employment, bankruptcy and wills.
• The Bexar County Veterans Treatment Court is a treatment-focused program for veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and active-duty personnel with a pending Bexar County misdemeanor. Its docket is called in County Court at Law No. 6, and the county also runs a separate Felony Veterans Treatment Court. If you or a family member is facing a charge, ask a criminal defense lawyer whether either program could apply.

The San Antonio Bar Association's referral service

If you are not connected to the military, or you need a civilian lawyer anyway, the San Antonio Bar Association runs a Lawyer Referral Service. Its public website, SALawHelp.org, says the service has operated since 1966 and describes it as the only certified lawyer referral service in San Antonio. It refers callers to licensed attorneys in its network who handle their type of matter. Ask about any consultation fee when you contact the service, and note that after the first consultation the lawyer's normal fees generally apply. SALawHelp.org also lists free and reduced-fee legal services and self-help guides for Texas courts.

Check the lawyer before you hire

Whoever you find, confirm their license in the State Bar of Texas Find a Lawyer directory. Profiles list practice areas and any foreign language assistance, which is useful if you would rather discuss your case in Spanish, and any public disciplinary history is shown on the profile.

The Texas Board of Legal Specialization certifies lawyers in areas that come up often for military and local families, including Family Law, Criminal Law, and Estate Planning and Probate Law. Certification is voluntary, so it is a plus rather than a requirement.

On fees, ask early. Divorces and criminal cases are often billed hourly against a retainer or quoted as a flat fee, and simpler work such as a basic will is often a flat fee. If a lawyer offers a contingent fee, for example in an injury case, Texas rules require that agreement to be in writing and to state how the fee is calculated.

What to bring to your first appointment

Along with the usual documents in our first meeting with a lawyer checklist, military and veteran clients should gather:

• Your current orders, and any expected PCS move, deployment or separation date.
• Your date of marriage and dates of military service, which matter for retired pay division.
• Your most recent Leave and Earnings Statement, or retiree pay statement.
• Your DD Form 214 if you are a veteran, plus any VA benefit letters.
• Any wills or powers of attorney already prepared by a legal assistance office.
• Court papers, with case numbers and the name of the court.

Find San Antonio law firms

When you are ready to compare civilian attorneys, browse San Antonio law firms on Directory For USA, read reviews for comments about communication and fees, and check each lawyer with the State Bar of Texas before you book. You can also explore other businesses in San Antonio, and our guide to spotting fake online reviews can help you read those reviews with a sharper eye.