(a) Representative A legal representative of a servicemember for purposes of this chapter is either of the following: (1) An attorney acting on the behalf of a servicemember . (2) An individual possessing a power of attorney. (b) Application Whenever the term “ servicemember ” is used in this chapter, such term shall be treated as including a reference to a legal representative of the servicemember . (Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 888, title I, § 109, as added Pub. L. 108–189, § 1 , Dec. 19, 2003 , 117 Stat. 2840 .) Editorial Notes Codification Section was formerly classified to section 519 of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries Effective Date Section applicable to any case not final before Dec. 19, 2003 , see section 3 of Pub. L. 108–189 , set out as a note under section 3901 of this title .