Hennepin County Self-Help Center

The Hennepin County District Court Self-Help Centers offer services to people who are representing themselves in court. The Hennepin County Self-Help Centers include the Family Justice Center Self-Help Center and Government Center Self-Help Center. See the Locations & Hours tab for more information. 
 
The mission and vision of the Hennepin County District Court Self-Help Centers is to help self-represented litigants handle their court case independently by providing clear and consistent resources to increase fair, timely, and neutral access to justice.
 
Services include:

• One-on-one help with court procedures
• One-on-one review of completed court forms
• Court forms and written instructions
• Brief legal advice from volunteer attorneys (when walk-in services are available)
• Referrals to community resources and legal services
• Help available in other languages either through bilingual staff or use of Language Line, a telephone-based language service.

The Self-Help Centers provide services in a few different ways, including phone, email, virtual appointments (i.e. Zoom meetings), in-person appointments, and walk-in services.  
 
Phone – Contact us at the phone numbers listed on the Locations and Hours tab.
 
Email – Use the Contact Us form to send us your questions or forms to be reviewed by e-mail. We are generally able to respond to all emails within 1-3 business days.
 
Appointments (in-person or via Zoom) – Use the Contact Us form to request an appointment (in-person or via Zoom) with staff. You can request an appointment for questions or form reviews. 
 
Walk-in Services – Visit a location in-person. Services are available on a first-come, first-served basis. See the Locations and Hours tab for address information and hours of service.  
 
IMPORTANT: Self-Help Center staff are court employees. Court employees cannot give legal advice or do legal research for customers. There is no attorney-client privilege or confidentiality of any information between you and the staff at a Self-Help Center. Staff must remain neutral and may give services to other people involved with your legal problem. Self-Help staff are not responsible for the outcome of your case. Please read What Court Staff Can and Cannot Do for You.

Government Center Self-Help Center

• Get help with criminal expungement, Harassment Restraining Orders (HROs), name changes, civil lawsuits, creditor/debtor issues, and other civil legal matters.

Hennepin County Government Center
300 South 6th Street, SK-260
Skyway level – just behind A-Tower weapons screening
Minneapolis, MN 55487-0421
651-478-8757, option 2
Hours: (closed holidays)
In-person – Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
By phone – Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Map 
 
Family Court Self-Help Center

• Get help with common family law issues such as divorce, child custody, parenting time, and child support.

Family Justice Center
110 South 4th Street
1st Floor
Minneapolis, MN 55401
651-478-8757, option 1
Hours: (closed holidays)
In-person – Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
By phone – Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Map
 
NOTE: For help with Domestic Abuse and Orders for Protection visit the Domestic Abuse Service Center.

• You are encouraged to review the Help Topics on this website before contacting the Self-Help Centers. The Help Topics offer lots of information on common legal topics and links to court forms, including online tools to fill out court forms, "how to" videos, and tutorials. You may be able to handle your legal matter or find answers to your questions without contacting Self-Help Center staff.
• Walk-in services are available on a first-come, first-served basis during regular business hours.  You should be prepared to wait if the Self-Help Centers are busy. Be aware that some services may require an appointment.
• If visiting a Self-Help Center in person, please arrange for childcare, if possible. The Self-Help Centers do not have a play area or toys for children. You and other customers will need to be able to focus on legal issues without distraction.  Keep that in mind if contacting staff by phone or through a virtual appointment as well.
• Expect to spend some time on your legal issues, both on your own and when working with Self-Help Center staff.
• If visiting a Self-Help Center in person, bring your checkbook, cash, or credit card. Walk-in services are free at the Self-Help Centers, but there may be fees in your case.  For example, criminal history printouts, subpoenas, and filing costs.
• Appointments can often last more than an hour, so please plan ahead for childcare, if you need to take time off of work, etc.  If visiting a Self-Help Center in person, please also allow extra time for traffic, parking, and going through weapons screening to avoid being late for your appointment, if possible.
• Note: Your appointment may be rescheduled or cancelled if you arrive late. Please call us at (651) 478-8757 to let us know if you anticipate being late for your appointment.

Your forms MUST be screened by Self-Help Center staff if:

• Your case is filed in Hennepin County Family Court; and
• You are not represented by an attorney.

EXCEPTION: Screening is not required for child support motions where the County Child Support Office is involved in the case.  These are called Expedited Process or “Ex Pro” cases.  Screening is also not required for forms to start a divorce.
 

• Your forms must be screened before a hearing date will be scheduled in your case.
• The screening process is to ensure that you are using the correct forms. 
• The screening process does not mean that the judge or referee will automatically grant your requests. The case will be decided based on the law, the evidence, and the legal arguments of all of the parties involved in the case.

How do I get my forms screened? 
Steps to get your court forms screened:

• Get the paperwork that you plan to file with the court and fill it out to the best of your ability.
  • If you have questions as you are filling out the forms, write them down and they will be answered during the screening, or you can call the Family Court Self-Help Center at (651) 478-8757, option 1.
• Get a copy of the latest court order(s) on your case, including any court orders that you want to change or enforce.
• If you are responding to paperwork served on you, make sure you have all the papers you received from the other party(ies).

Send an email to 4thshcweb@courts.state.mn.us or call the Family Court Self-Help Center at (651) 478-8757, option 1 (during business hours).  Staff can generally respond to emails within 1-3 business days. For phone calls, you may be asked to leave a voicemail.  Voicemails are checked daily and returned as soon as possible during business hours.

Volunteer lawyers give brief, free legal advice at the Hennepin County Self-Help Centers. Use of these advice clinics is generally limited to people who live in Hennepin County or have a court case in Hennepin County. Some clinic services are also limited to people whose income is within a certain range of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.  All clinics are first-come, first-served.

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Legal Access Point (LAP) Clinic at the Government Center

Free legal consults for people with low income (up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines) on civil law topics only. Sign up for all clinic times starts at 8:00 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. The number of openings is very limited. 
 

Hours:

Tuesdays:  9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
3rd Tuesday of the month: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Thursdays: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
 

Location:

4th District Court Self-Help Center
Hennepin County Govt. Center
300 S. 6th St., skyway level
Minneapolis, MN 55487 map

NOTE: The advice clinic attorneys are volunteers. Their schedules are subject to changes or cancellations without notice. Call (612) 752-6666 if you want to confirm that an attorney will be at the advice clinic on a particular day.
 

Legal Access Point (LAP) Clinic at the Family Justice Center

Free legal consults for people with low income (up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines) on family law topics only. Sign up for all clinic times starts at 8:00 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. The number of openings is very limited.
 

Hours:

Mondays: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thursdays:  10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
 

Location:

Family Justice Center
110 S. 4th St., 1st floor
Minneapolis, MN 55401 map

NOTE: The advice clinic attorneys are volunteers. Their schedules are subject to changes or cancellations without notice. Call (612) 752-6677 if you want to confirm that an attorney will be at the advice clinic on a particular day.