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Settle Out of Court

Going to court is not always the best way to solve a legal dispute because it can be costly, time-consuming and very stressful. Other ways to solve legal problems are called "alternative dispute resolution" (ADR). Common types of ADR include mediation, arbitration, and neutral evaluation.

Early Case Management/Early Neutral Evaluation - Settle Out of Court

Early Case Management

Early Case Management (ECM) is a five-prong model used in family court that requires intensive judicial involvement very early in the case to tailor a case management plan and, in many cases, facilitate an expedited settlement.

Early Neutral Evaluation

Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE) is a voluntary, confidential, high quality, affordable, prompt, evaluative alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process focused on generating durable settlements. In social ENE (SENE), custody and parenting time issues are addressed. In financial ENE (FENE), financial and marital estate issues are addressed.

Learn more about the Minnesota ECM/ENE Statewide Initiative, as well as resources for ENE programs and evaluators

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Self-Help Centers

A Self-Help Center is a place where you can find helpful information, services and resources about your legal problem if you are not represented by a lawyer.

Self-Help Center Locations

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State Law Library

Room G25
Minnesota Judicial Center
25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

(651) 297-7651

mn.gov/law-library