Military Law

Robert Wheelock brings over thirty years of worldwide military related legal experience to your case involving military law and military issues. He initially served in the nuclear submarine service; and then became a Navy JAG. While on active duty, Mr. Wheelock served in numerous military law capacities. He worked for the Judge Advocate General of the Navy in Washington, D.C. in Admiralty Law as a liaison with the Department of State and the Department of Justice. Mr. Wheelock also served in a dual capacity between the Navy and the Department of Justice as a Special United States Attorney on military medical malpractice. He functioned as a bio-ethics attorney for military hospitals. He served as trial defense counsel, legal assistance counsel and finally as a Chief Trial Counsel involved in a large number of Courts Martial, Administrative Discharge Boards and Medical Discharge Boards throughout the world.

Since entering private practice in 1985, Mr. Wheelock has brought his military training and experience to all areas of the law of interest to service persons and their families. He has essentially functioned as a private JAG doing military justice cases in all services including Navy, Army, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force from Central Florida to Japan.. Mr. Wheelock has defended clients in Courts Marital, in Medical Discharge Boards, Administrative Discharge Boards and in desertion matters. 

 

Mr. Wheelock currently represents a significant number of military personnel on deployment in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places, and the spouses of service members, in Florida family law matters. He was an active duty JAG at the genesis of the uniform Services Former Spouses Protection Act. Mr. Wheelock has taught and lectured Judges, lawyers and military people on the meaning and effect of this federal statute since its inception and as it changed over time. Recently, Mr. Wheelock has been accepted as a Court expert to testify directly to the Judge on military family law matters. Mr. Wheelock understands that military family law presents difficult issues not always seen by the average family practitioner. It is important to make sure that your case is handled by an attorney that understands the implications of military law on your situation. It is always better to involve our law firm in the beginning of your case to prevent something bad from happening regarding division of military pension, the effect of the Survivor Benefit Plan and the enforceability of Orders through DFAS. Even a small mistake can have devastating effects on the enforceability of a military family law order.

 

In these very demanding military times, no one knows better than Mr. Wheelock the price that a service member pays for the call to arms. The stretching of military resources in the last eight years have demanded multiple extended deployments that can have devastating personal consequences on the home front. We also keep in mind how difficult it is for the military spouse to keep the home fires burning while the service member is away for extended periods.

 

In the face of uncertainty, you may have many questions. You want answers and you want them now. You may have other questions and concerns.We make time for consultations for service persons and military spouses every business day. Please contact us for an immediate consultation.  Telephone consultations are available for deployed persons and family members.