Ramsey Civil Division

Civil Filing

Conciliation Court

Civil Commitment Court

Housing Court

Probate Court

Civil Assignment

While the Civil Division is composed of many sub-units, including Conciliation, Housing, Probate, and Commitment Courts, the main work of the division is to accept Civil lawsuit filings.  Most people who are involved in Civil suits are represented by an attorney, but it is not a requirement.

Please contact our office with questions and requests or navigate to one of the links in the right-hand side of this page.

Address:
Ramsey County Courthouse
15 W. Kellogg Blvd.
Room 170
St. Paul, MN  55102

Phone: (651) 266-8253

Hours: Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
 

Civil Assignment is responsible for all scheduling and general case management of major civil cases. In addition, implied consent cases are scheduled and monitored by Civil Assignment. If your case is assigned to one of the Civil Judges and you wish to schedule a hearing or motion, please select the appropriate telephone number or email listed below:

Hon. Leonardo Castro

(651) 266-8252
Email »

Hon. Thomas A. Gilligan, Presiding Judge

(651) 266-8252
Email »

Hon. Sara R. Grewing

(651) 266-8307
Email »

Hon. John H. Guthmann

(651) 266-8249
Email »

Hon. Lezlie O. Marek

(651) 266-8306
Email »

Hon. Laura E. Nelson

(651) 266-8309
Email »

Implied Consent cases

(651) 266-8309
Email »

Conciliation Court, sometimes called Small Claims Court, was established by Minn. Stat. § 491A.02 to allow citizens to bring their legal claims to court without expensive costs or complicated legal procedures.

The limit for a claim in Conciliation Court is $15,000.00. If you wish to claim more than that you must file your claim with the Civil Division of the Second Judicial District Court.

The Second Judicial District is pleased to offer a legal clinic to assist unrepresented parties prepare and file matters in Conciliation Court.  Volunteer attorneys and law students are available for brief consultation meetings every Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  Learn More »

The Civil Commitment Court has the obligation of committing persons to treatment centers with the allegation of Mental Illness, Developmental Disabilty, Chemical Dependency, Psychopathic Personality and referrals from Criminal Court. The civil commitment process is governed by Minn. Stat. §253B.

Types of Commitments

• Mentally Ill persons (MI) - Persons that are mentally ill and as a result, pose a danger to themselves or others;
• Developmentally Disabled persons (DD) - Persons that are developmentally disabled and as a result, pose a danger to themselves or others;
• Chemically Dependent persons (CD) - Persons that are chemically dependent, unable to manage personal affairs, and as a result, pose a danger to themselves or others;
• Persons Mentally Ill and Dangerous to the Public (MI&D) - Persons that are mentally ill and as a result, have caused or intended to cause serious physical harm to another and are likely to take such action in the future;
• Sexual Psychopathic Personalities (SPP) - Persons who have an utter lack of power to control their sexual impulses as the result of a mental disorder and therefore pose a danger to the public;
• Sexually Dangerous Persons (SDP) - Persons who have a mental disorder who have engaged in and are likely to continue to engage in harmful sexual conduct.

Petition Process

Court Process

The court process consists of three statutorily required hearings, beginning with the preliminary hearing. This hearing provides an opportunity for a voluntary agreement to be entered into by all the parties that may eliminate the need for further hearings. If a settlement is not reached, the court determines whether the patient presents an imminent danger to himself or others. If the court finds that there is an imminent danger, the patient is held in a secure facility.

The court then appoints an examiner and the patient may select a second examiner to conduct a pre-hearing examination. These licensed professionals examine the patient and submit reports to the court with their recommendations concerning commitment. These examinations are independent of those done by the staff at the treating hospital.

After completing the above examinations, the case is heard by a judge in a full judicial hearing. The petitioner, through their counsel the County Attorney, calls witnesses and submits evidence showing that all of the requirements for commitment have been satisfactorily met. The patient is then allowed to submit evidence to show that he or she does not meet the conditions necessary for commitment, or that there is a less restrictive alternative available for them.

The judge then makes a determination, based on all of the evidence, regarding the level of treatment needed by the patient. The judge may dismiss the petition completely or may structure a treatment plan that the patient agrees to comply with. If necessary, the court may commit the patient to a treating hospital under the care and supervision of the court and the hospital. In extreme cases, the court may even order a patient to receive medications that the patient does not wish to receive. This only occurs after a separate hearing is held to determine that this action is appropriate. This hearing is often known as a Jarvis hearing.

Most patients are committed to either a public or private hospital for treatment with the Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center serving as a back-up location. Most initial commitment periods cannot exceed six months. After six months, the court is required to review the matter following a full trial hearing, and decide whether to extend the commitment up to a maximum of twelve months. However, in cases involving Mentally Ill and Dangerous Persons, Sexual Psychopathic Personalities, or Sexually Dangerous Persons, commitment is of an indefinite duration. Periodic reviews are conducted by the court to determine whether the initial commitment remains valid.

August 19, 2020 Administrative Order Regarding Resumption of Housing Court Operations.

Housing Court in Ramsey County hears and decides civil cases related to residential rental housing under Minn. Stat. §504B and criminal cases related to housing code enforcement.  This includes, for example, claims for rent abatement, rent escrow proceedings, eviction actions, and actions for violation of state, county, or city housing codes.  Housing Court ensures housing claims are brought before a single, trained referee.  This is to encourage consistent decisions and prompt compliance with Minnesota's housing laws.

Ramsey County District Court appoints a referee to hold hearings and make recommended decisions.  After the hearing in each case, the referee's recommended findings and orders are sent to a district court judge.  These become the findings and order of the court when confirmed by the district judge.  The landlord or tenant may ask the district court judge to review any order or finding recommended by the referee.  The person who is requesting the review must file and serve (provide to the other party) a notice of the recommended order or finding within 10 days of the order.  This notice must explain the reasons for requesting a review and state the specific parts of the recommended findings or orders that are disputed.  After receiving this notice, a time for the review hearing may be set.  Upon review of the request, the court record, the referee's recommendation, and testimony (if a hearing was required), the judge will decide whether to accept, reject or change the referee's recommended decision.

Ramsey County landlords and tenants are encouraged to use the Housing Court to resolve housing related disputes that they cannot work out themselves.

Free Legal Clinic to assist unrepresented parties prepare and file matters in Housing Court

Volunteer attorneys and law students are available for brief consultation meetings every Tuesday afternoon from 1 to 4PM. The Minnesota Justice Foundation (MJF), Ramsey County District Court, and the Ramsey County Law Library are collaborating to offer a pro bono clinic in the Ramsey County Law Library on the 18th floor of the Ramsey County Court House. For more information, visit the Ramsey County Law Library website.

• For more information, please visit the Landlord and Tenant Issues Help Topic.
• Additional Information about Landlords and Tenants Rights and Responsibilities is available from the Attorney General's Office. 

The Second Judicial District's Probate Court has jurisdiction over cases concerning the disposition of property belonging to deceased persons, administration of court-supervised trusts, proceedings to create guardianships and conservatorships for minor children, incapacitated or incompetent adults, and civil commitment proceedings. 
Find Second Judicial District Court Probate Forms

Probate law is based on the ecclesiastical law of the church and historically this court was known as the "widows and orphans court." The Probate Court now operates under a modification of the Uniform Probate Code, specifically Minn. Stat. §524 and Minn. Stat. §525, the Rules of Civil Procedure, and the General Rules of Practice, Title V. Probate Rules.

Probate Court is part of the Civil Division of the Second Judicial District and is located on the first floor of the Ramsey County Courthouse.

Probate Court
170 Courthouse
15 West Kellogg Boulevard
St. Paul, MN 55102