Frequently Asked Questions
A. Please allow 4 to 6 hours for the entire process. Check in at the front counter.
Q. I am a parent. Do I need to appear in court with my child?
A. It is highly recommended that a parent attend their child's court appearance.
Q. Does my child need to have an attorney?
A. Your child has the right to have an attorney represent them. A court-appointed attorney will be provided if the level of offense is a misdemeanor or higher, and if you qualify under the poverty guidelines.
Traffic matters and petty misdemeanors are not assigned a court-appointed attorney.
Q. My child received a traffic ticket. What do we do?
A. You will receive a letter from Hennepin County Juvenile Court, including instructions, on what to do regarding the ticket in about 4-8 weeks after receiving the ticket. If you do not receive a letter from the juvenile court within that time, please call (612) 322-6999 to verify that the address on file is correct.
Q. Can I have access to my adoption records?
A. A court order is needed to access any adoption records. To receive access to an adoption record, you will need to complete an Affidavit for Adoption Access form and either mail or drop off the form at the records window at the Hennepin County Juvenile Justice Center.
Q. I want to be emancipated. What do I do?
A. Emancipation means that a minor has the same legal rights and obligations as an 18-year-old adult. The Minnesota Statutes do not provide either the grounds or a procedure for emancipation. Minnesota case law has established that a minor can be emancipated by a legal marriage or by parental consent.
Q. I have an active warrant for my arrest. What do I do?
A. Contact the Juvenile Detention Center or Juvenile Court in person to set up a new court date.
Q. I represent myself but I need help. What do I do?
A. The Minnesota Judicial Branch offers support services for self-represented litigants.
At the Judicial Branch Self-Help Centers (SHC), you can get free legal information about common legal problems or help finding low-cost legal services. Legal information includes help with court forms, answers to general questions about court procedures, and other help to get you started on your case. Services are available by phone, email, or in person at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Visit the Self-Help Centers webpage for more details and information.
The Minnesota State Law Library provides legal information services to everyone. Reference librarians can help you find legal information and provide referrals for organizations offering legal advice. Services are available by phone, email and chat, or in person at the State Law Library in St. Paul from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. The library also offers two free legal clinics for people appealing a case to the Minnesota Court of Appeals or Minnesota Supreme Court. Visit the State Law Library website to find pages on over 300 legal topics and lists of legal referrals for each county in the state.
Q. I need an attorney but I don't know where to start. What do I do?
A. There are numerous resources to find an attorney. The Minnesota Judicial Branch does not advocate or recommend any specific attorney or services, but there these are examples of resources in search of attorney services.
MINNESOTA STATE BAR ASSOCIATION
www.mnfindalawyer.com The Minnesota Bar Association maintains this website for their Minnesota Lawyer Referral and Information Service (MNLRIS), which connects persons with legal issues to one of over 200 qualified private attorneys practicing in over 50 areas of law. Referral counselors can set up appointments with attorneys, provide general information about the legal process, and direct people to appropriate legal resources. Free legal consultations (30 minutes) are available. The bar associations also offer a statewide Low Fee Family Law Project. They provide full representation for a reduced fee to clients with family law matters who live in Minnesota. Call 612-752-6666 to make an appointment for a phone screening. Income guidelines apply.
MINNESOTA LEGAL ADVICE ONLINE
www.mnlegaladvice.org On this website you can post a question and get free legal advice online from a lawyer. You can post questions at any time, but it may take a few days to be matched with a volunteer who can respond to your question. Income guidelines apply.
CIVIL LEGAL AID PROGRAMS
www.lawhelpmn.org This website offers a statewide online directory to search for free or low-cost civil legal services based on your location and/or legal issue. You can choose the LawHelpMN Guide link to go through a short interview and get specific legal information and referrals or search providers and clinics directly.
MINNESOTA UNBUNDLED LAW PROJECT
www.mnunbundled.org On this website you can complete an intake form to find a lawyer to work with you on certain parts of your case. This is known as unbundled representation or limited scope representation. You and the lawyer agree that you will do some of the tasks for your case, and the lawyer will do others. The lawyer bills you only for the parts of the case the lawyer handled. Legal areas include family, business, employment, real estate, benefits and administration, housing and landlord/tenant, wills, trusts, and elder, and consumer protection and debt.
ESTATE & ELDER LAW SERVICES - VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA
www.voamnwi.org Assists clients with wills, trusts, estate planning, probate, power of attorney, health care directives, guardianship, conservatorship, special needs trusts, medical assistance planning, and real estate matters. Individuals may qualify to get services at subsidized rates based on monthly income and asset level. Basic wills and trusts are available at flat-rate fee.