Videos & Tutorials

The Minnesota Judicial Branch provides these videos and tutorials for general educational purposes. The content is not a substitute for legal advice from a lawyer. The information is based on Minnesota law, but some information may be specific to a particular Judicial District or County Court.

Contact a Self Help Center

Find more videos on the Minnesota Judicial Branch channel on YouTube.

Conciliation Court

Understanding Small Claims Court (1 min.)
Small Claims - General overview of Conciliation Court (also known as Small Claims Court) (Video from the National Center for State Courts)

Criminal & Traffic

Statement of Rights - Video created by the MN Judicial Branch explaining your rights in a MN criminal court case.
Criminal Expungement (60 min., 16 Chapters) (NOTE: The forms covered in these videos have changed due to the 2023 MN Legislative Session. The videos are still a helpful guide, but keep in mind that the forms no longer match exactly. Updated videos will be released shortly.)
Drug Courts: Savings Money and Saving Lives (11 min.) (MN Judicial Branch & TPT-MN Channel)

Family & Juvenile Law

How to File a Motion in Family Court
How to File a Motion to Modify Child Support (50 min., 6 Chapters)
How to File a Motion to Stop a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)
How to Start a Divorce in Minnesota
In the Best Interests of Your Child - Overview of Child Protection Cases (27 min.) (Children's Justice Initiative)
Introduction to Hennepin County Juvenile Court: What to Expect (9 min.)
Juvenile Delinquency Process - Overview for Parents (11 min.) (Hennepin County J uvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative)

Other

Going to Court in Minnesota (27 min.) (English, Hmong, Somali, Spanish, and for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing)
Video Guide to Administrative Hearings (8 min.) (MN Office of Administrative Hearings) (state agency is separate from the Minnesota Judicial Branch)
Guardianship Orientation Video
Conservatorship Orientation Video
Information about Self Help Centers (7 min.)
Legal Language 101 - General overview of legal terminology (Video from the National Center for State Courts)
Navigating the Court System Without a Lawyer - General overview of going to court (Video from the National Center for State Courts)
Filing Motions - General overview of a motion and the motion filing process (Video from the National Center for State Courts)
Legal Advice vs. Legal Information (Video from the National Center for State Courts)
The who, what, when, where and how of state courts (Video from the National Center for State Courts)
Understanding the Difference Between Civil and Criminal Cases (Video from the National Center for State Courts)
Understanding Court Papers: What to Do After Being Served (Video from the National Center for State Courts)
Decoding Court Jargon: Understanding Common Procedural Terms (Video from the National Center for State Courts)
Harassment Court Procedure (6 mins.) (Created for Hennepin County District Court). Also available in Spanish.