Programs and service areas

We advocate for our clients’ rights and provide civil legal aid at no cost to those experiencing poverty. We also help clients navigate legal and government systems and connect them with community-based resources.

Explore our areas of law and apply for services through our online eligibility form. You can also contact us with questions by phone or email: 612-348-7012 or ContactARS@hennepin.us

Civil commitment

We represent individuals in civil commitment cases. This includes:

Initial petition for commitment.
Request for medication orders or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
Changes to conditions of commitment.
Reviews and appeals of commitment.
Motions to seal the civil commitment record.

Families

Help for parents in child protection cases

We provide legal advice and representation to parents and guardians who are involved with child protection. We can:

Give you legal advice before and during court involvement.
Represent you in child protection court and help you work toward your goals.
Connect you with services and supports to help your family stay stable.
Advocate for your rights with child protection workers and in court.
Connect you with other helpful legal and community resources.

Help with child support and paternity

We provide legal advice and representation for individuals who are ordered to pay child support. We can:

Review your situation to see if you may qualify for a lower child support payment.
Advise you on how to handle child support arrears (past-due payments).
Represent you if you are facing a contempt action for unpaid child support.
Represent parents in paternity cases up until paternity is legally established.

For all other family court matters (e.g. divorce or custody cases), call Hennepin County Family Court (612-348-6734) or visit their FAQ page.

Health Equity Legal Project (HELP)

The Health Equity Legal Project (HELP) provides free representation and supportive services to families who have been contacted by child protection or who are experiencing hardships that put them at risk for child protection involvement.

Our goal is to help families stay together and avoid unnecessary child protection and court involvement. You may qualify for HELP services if you:

Have been contacted by child protection services.
Are worried about child protection involvement and are facing hardships such as housing instability, difficulties meeting basic needs, or challenges accessing healthcare.
Meet financial eligibility guidelines.
Are a Hennepin County resident (or have been contacted by Hennepin County child protection services).

HELP services include:

Confidential support from a team who are not mandated reporters.
Legal advice and services relating to child protection involvement, housing, immigration, guardianship/conservatorship, and civil commitment.
Assistance navigating legal and government systems.
Referrals to community-based service providers based on your goals.

Interested in the HELP program?

Complete the HELP referral form (PDF) and email it to contactars@hennepin.us.

Guardianship

We provide legal advice and help you make the changes you want if you are under guardianship in Hennepin County. We can:

Identify ways to avoid guardianship through supported decision making.
Ask the court to change your guardian.
Ask the court to limit your guardian’s ability to make decisions for you.
Petition to terminate your guardianship when you feel you no longer need it.

Supported decision making

Our goal is to maximize self-sufficiency and autonomy of individuals at risk for guardianship using supported decision-making (SDM) tools. We can:

Find out what is important to you when making decisions.
Help you to identify someone you trust to help you make decisions.
Create legal documents that include your preferences.
Educate someone you trust about how to make decisions with you, not for you.

Learn more:

Read more about how we can help you with supported decision making.
Watch videos about SDM in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong.

Housing

We provide legal advice and representation for tenants facing eviction in Hennepin County. We can:

Advise you of your rights as a tenant and any defenses you may have to eviction.
Negotiate with your landlord to attempt to resolve the dispute.
Advocate for you in court.
Help you file a request to have an eviction removed from your record (expungement).
Connect you with available financial assistance and services to help you achieve stable housing.

Already have a housing court date?

Complete the Housing Court Representation Eligibility screening to see if you are eligible for free representation.

Immigration

We serve non-citizens who are residents of Hennepin County and need help with immigration-related issues. We can:

Provide advice and answer immigration-related questions.
Determine if you are eligible to obtain or improve your immigration status.
Assist you with applications for immigration benefits, such as citizenship, work authorization, U and T visas, permanent residency, and document replacements.
Represent immigrant youth in petitions for at-risk guardianship.
Provide immediate consultation for people at risk of immigration enforcement actions.
Provide an attorney to help you file a petition to get out of immigration detention (a “habeas petition”).
Provide limited or full representation in immigration court for select cases.

We are generally unable to assist with asylum cases or help with standalone asylum applications.

If you have a case we cannot take, we may provide consultation and offer you a referral to another agency.

Additional resources

Read about legal supports from partner agencies.
Explore resources for your immigration question at LawHelpMN.