Minnesota Judicial Branch Logo

Ramsey County Self-Help

Contact us by email

If you are not represented by an attorney, you can find helpful information about your legal problem through Self-Help Services.
 

Services

The Ramsey County District Court Self-Help Service Center helps people who are representing themselves in Family Court cases and Criminal Expungements. Please visit the Family Court or Criminal Expungement tabs for more information about these services.
 

Services Do Not Include:

Visit HelpTopics for information on common legal topics and resources to help you handle your legal issue. For some legal topics, these resources include online tools for completing forms and “how-to” videos and tutorials.
 

Important

Many legal issues are time sensitive and have strict deadlines. If you are not sure if deadlines apply to your legal issue, you should seek immediate legal advice from an attorney. Do not wait for assistance from the Self-Help Service Center.

Conciliation Court

For more information about this clinic, visit the Ramsey County Law Library. The Ramsey County District Court and Ramsey County Law Library offer a free legal clinic for unrepresented parties every Tuesday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Ramsey County Law Library located on the 18th floor of the Ramsey County Courthouse.
 

Criminal Court

For more information about this clinic, visit the Ramsey County Law Library. If you have a criminal law question, the Ramsey County Law Library offers a free Criminal Defense Law Clinic every first and third Thursday of the month from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Ramsey County Law Library located on the 18th floor of the Ramsey County Courthouse.
 

Criminal Expungement

For help with criminal expungement questions, please contact the Volunteer Lawyer's Network at (612) 752-6677.
 

Housing Court

For information about this clinic, visit the Ramsey County Law Library. The Minnesota Justice Foundation, Ramsey County District Court, and Ramsey County Law Library offer a free legal clinic for unrepresented parties every Tuesday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Ramsey County Law Library located on the 18th floor of the Ramsey County Courthouse.
 

Family Court

Please call (651) 266-5125 to schedule an appointment. Ramsey County District Court offers a free legal clinic for unrepresented parties every Monday and Wednesday from noon to 2:00 p.m. To qualify for this service, customers must have an existing Ramsey County Family Court case or must live in Ramsey County and are looking to start a Family Court case. Volunteer attorneys will provide brief legal advice and answer legal questions you have about your family case. Volunteer attorneys will not represent you in court or fill out forms for you. This Clinic is being conducted by phone appointment only until further notice.
 

Process

Expungement is the process of going to court to ask a judge to seal a court record. It is important to remember that an expunged record is not destroyed. The police, FBI, immigration officers, and other public officials may still see sealed court files for certain purposes. Usually, people ask for an expungement when they have been denied a job, housing, or a professional license because of their criminal background. If you would like to read more information about criminal expungements, please visit the Criminal Expungement help topic.

 

The Self-Help Service Center provides forms, explains processes and procedures, reviews your documents for completeness and adequacy, and provides information about other legal resources available to you.

Important

The Self-Help Service Center can provide legal information, but we are not allowed to give you legal advice. We can answer general questions about court rules and procedures, define common legal words, offer you court forms and instructions, and explain what legal options you may have. We cannot recommend one legal option over another, suggest legal arguments, tell you what you should say in court or write in your paperwork, or tell you what you should do. If you are not sure what to do in your case, you should get legal advice from a lawyer. 

Juvenile and Family Justice Center

25 West 7th Street
St Paul, MN 55102

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

Additional Resources

For help with criminal expungement questions, please contact the Volunteer Lawyer's Network at (612) 752-6677. 

Online

For forms that can be used in any Minnesota County District Court, visit  the GetForms page.  has statewide forms that may be used in your case. You can fill out these forms electronically or you can print them out and fill them out by hand. All forms must be printed out single-sided. If you are filling the forms out by hand, please use blue or black ink.

In-Person

The Self-Help Service Center has form packets if you are unable to print out the forms on your own. If you need to obtain blank forms, you can do so at the Juvenile and Family Justice Center, 25 W. 7th Street, St. Paul, MN 55102.

Turning In Forms

Once your forms are complete, dated, signed, and you have gathered any documents you want to file with your forms, you can email, mail, or bring in your paperwork. You can mail in or drop off your paperwork at: Self-Help Service Center, 25 W. 7th Street, St. Paul, MN 55102. For more information about submitting your forms by email, please call (651) 266-5125 or use the Contact Us button at the top of this page.

Reviewing Paperwork

The Self-Help Service Center is reviewing forms remotely by phone or zoom. Self-help staff will call or email you to set up your virtual review after you turn in your paperwork. The Self-Help Service Center has limited in-person paperwork reviews. When turning in your paperwork, please let Self-Help staff know you want an in-person review and they will schedule an appointment for you.

Process

The Self-Help Service Center provides forms, explains processes and procedures, reviews your documents for completeness and adequacy, and provides information about other legal resources available to you.
 

Services Include

The Self-Help Service Center assists with divorce, child support, paternity, custody, and parenting time in Ramsey County cases. 
 

Services Do Not Include

The Self-Help Service Center does not assist with annulment of marriage, legal separation, or grandparent visitation issues. The Self-Help Service Center does not assist with cases in other counties. The Self-Help Service Center does not assist with Court of Appeals cases.
 

Important

The Self-Help Service Center can provide legal information, but we are not allowed to give you legal advice. We can answer general questions about court rules and procedures, define common legal words, offer you court forms and instructions, and explain what legal options you may have. We cannot recommend one legal option over another, suggest legal arguments, tell you what you should say in court or write in your paperwork, or tell you what you should do. If you are not sure what to do in your case, you should get legal advice from a lawyer.

Online

For forms that can be used in any Minnesota County District Court, visit  the Get Forms page. You can fill out these forms electronically or print them out and fill them out by hand. All forms must be printed out single-sided. If you are filling the forms out by hand, please use blue or black ink.
 

In Person

The Self-Help Service Center has form packets if you are unable to print the forms out on your own. If you need to obtain blank forms, you can do so at the Juvenile and Family Justice Center, 25 W. 7th Street, St. Paul, MN 55102. The Self-Help Service Center charges a copy fee for the form packets.
 

Forms Specific to Ramsey County District Court

Ramsey County Family District Court has forms for use specifically in Ramsey County. To use these forms in another county, you must contact that specific county court administration to confirm they will accept the form.

Summons and Complaint to Establish Paternity
Answer and Counter-Complaint to Establish Paternity
Joint Petition to Establish Custody and Parenting Time 
Stipulation and Order to Establish Custody and Parenting Time 
Default Order to Establish Custody and Parenting Time
Stipulation and Order to Modify Parenting Time 
​Admission of Service for starting a divorce case 
Admission of Service for starting a custody or paternity case 
Admission of Service for answering and motions
Application for Service by Alternate Means 
ICMC Data Sheet

Juvenile and Family Justice Center

25 West 7th Street
St Paul, MN 55102

Front Desk Hours

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

Free Legal Clinic

Ramsey County District Court offers a free legal clinic for unrepresented parties every Monday and Wednesday from noon to 2:00 p.m. To qualify for this service, customers must have an existing Ramsey County Family Court case or must live in Ramsey County and are looking to start a Family Court case. Volunteer attorneys will provide brief legal advice and answer legal questions you have about your family case. Volunteer attorneys will not represent you in court or fill out forms for you. Please call (651) 266-5125 to schedule an appointment. This Clinic is being conducted by phone appointment only until further notice.

Turning In Forms

Once your forms are complete, dated, signed, and you have gathered any documents you want to file with your forms, you can email, mail, or bring in your paperwork. You can mail in or drop off your paperwork at: Self-Help Service Center, 25 W. 7th Street, St. Paul, MN 55102. For more information about submitting your forms by email, please call (651) 266-5125 or use the Contact Us button at the top of this page.
 

Reviewing Paperwork

The Self-Help Service Center is reviewing forms remotely by phone or zoom. Self-help staff will call or email you to set up your virtual review after you turn in your paperwork. The Self-Help Service Center has limited in-person paperwork reviews. When turning in your paperwork, please let Self-Help staff know you want an in-person review and they will schedule an appointment for you.