Minnesota Judicial Branch
Help for self-represented litigants
Need help with a legal problem? The Minnesota Judicial Branch offers support services through the Self-Help Centers and the Minnesota State Law Library.
Self-Help Centers
At a Self-Help Center (SHC), you can get free legal information about common legal problems or help finding low-cost legal services. Legal information includes help with court forms, answers to general questions about court procedures, and other help to get you started on your case. There are many ways to get help:
Online Help Topics
Visit https://mncourts.gov/help-topic-sections for basic information and forms on over 50 common legal problems such as small claims court, criminal expungement, divorce, restraining orders, child support, custody, name changes, and landlord and tenant matters.
Statewide Self-Help
The Statewide Self-Help Center serves all counties in Minnesota by phone and email. Call center hours are
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Contact us by phone at (651) 435-6535 or email (go to
www.mncourts.gov/selfhelp and click on “Contact the Self-Help Center”).
Self-Help Center Workstations
Courthouses across the state have self-help workstations with a desk, computer with internet access, printer, and phone that connects directly to the Statewide Self-Help Center. You can use the workstations to find legal information, print court forms, use online tools to help complete court forms, and talk with SHC staff. For more information, call (651) 435-6535.
Self-Help Center In-Person Locations
Ramsey County has a Family Court Self-Help Center. They are located at the Family and Juvenile Justice Center at 25 West 7th Street in St. Paul. For more information, call (651) 266-5125.
Hennepin County has two Self-Help Centers in Minneapolis: one at the Family Justice Center located at 110 South 4th Street and one at the Government Center at 300 South 6th Street. For more information, call 651-478-8757.
The 10th District (Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright counties) has a Self-Help Center. For more information, call 763-760-6699.
Please note: Staff cannot give legal advice or conduct legal research for you. There is no attorney-client privilege of any information between you and Self-Help Center staff. Self-Help Center staff are not responsible for the outcome of your case.
Minnesota State Law Library
The Minnesota State Law Library provides legal information services to everyone. Reference librarians can help you find legal information and provide referrals for organizations offering legal advice. Services are available by phone, email and chat or in person at the State Law Library in St. Paul from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. The library also offers two free legal clinics for people appealing a case to the Minnesota Court of Appeals or Minnesota Supreme Court.
Visit the State Law Library website https://mn.gov/law-library/ to find pages on over 300 legal topics and lists of legal referrals for each county in the state. The website also has an archive of Minnesota appellate court opinions and briefs.
Please note: The Minnesota State Law Library provides legal information services to all. As librarians, we cannot interpret laws, explain whether something is “legal,” or otherwise provide legal advice.
25 Rev.Dr. Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-297-7651
Resources for Legal Advice and Representation
MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL
The Minnesota Attorney General accepts complaints against businesses in Minnesota and will mediate consumer complaints related to issues like false advertising, deceptive business practices, unfair debt collection practices, defective products, home repair scams, auto sales issues, healthcare provider disputes, and other violations of consumer protection laws; essentially, any situation where a consumer feels they have been treated unfairly by a company.
CIVIL LEGAL AID PROGRAMS
This website offers a statewide online directory to search for free or low-cost civil legal services based on your location and/or legal issue. You can choose the LawHelpMN Guide link to go through a short interview and get specific legal information and referrals or search providers and clinics directly.
MINNESOTA UNBUNDLED LAW PROJECT
On this website you can complete an intake form to find a lawyer to work with you on certain parts of your case. This is known as unbundled representation or limited scope representation. You and the lawyer agree that you will do some of the tasks for your case, and the lawyer will do others. The lawyer bills you only for the parts of the case the lawyer handled. Legal areas include family, business, employment, real estate, benefits and administration, housing and landlord/tenant, wills, trusts, and elder, and consumer protection and debt.
MINNESOTA STATE BAR ASSOCIATION
The Minnesota bar associations maintain this website for their Minnesota Lawyer Referral and Information Service (MNLRIS), which connects persons with legal issues to one of over 200 qualified private attorneys practicing in over 50 areas of law. Referral counselors can set up appointments with attorneys, provide general information about the legal process, and direct people to appropriate legal resources. Free legal consultations (30 minutes) are available.
The bar associations also offer a statewide Low Fee Family Law Project. They provide full representation for a reduced fee to clients with family law matters who live in Minnesota. Call 612-752-6666 to make an appointment for a phone screening. Income guidelines apply.
ESTATE & ELDER LAW SERVICES – VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA
Assists clients with wills, trusts, estate planning, probate, power of attorney, health care directives, guardianship, conservatorship, special needs trusts, Medical assistance planning, and real estate matters. Individuals may qualify to get services at subsidized rates based on monthly income and asset level. Basic wills and trusts are available at flat-rate fee.
WORKING WITH LAWYERS
What should you do if you believe a lawyer has acted unprofessionally? This guide offers guidance in answering questions like:
- How should I handle a fee dispute?
- How can problems be prevented?
- What is the lawyers professional responsibility system?
- How do I file a professional responsibility complaint against a lawyer?
- What will happen if I file a complaint?
- Are there other ways of resolving problems with lawyers?