Self Help
Dakota County Family Court Self Help Center
The Dakota County Family Court Self Help Center is a program that any Dakota County resident with a family court case can use. There are no restrictions on income to use this free service. You can receive a free 30 minute consultation from a volunteer attorney, who can help with divorce, child custody, child support, visitation, paternity issues, spousal maintenance, and domestic abuse. The volunteer attorneys can answer legal questions, offer procedural advice, and help fill out court provided forms.
LawHelpMN.org provides answers to legal questions, contact information for legal aid offices, links to courthouses and local community organizations. You can put in your county and type of case to get a list of possible organizations that might help you.
State Courts “virtual” Self Help Center
This website has information and links to legal resources to help you represent yourself in Minnesota District Courts.
This website contains legal forms approved for use in Minnesota courts.
Other Information
Dakota County Government
Website containing all county information.
Website containing Topics such as Caring for Ourselves and Families, Child Care Providers, Healthy Living, Assisting Veterans, Get the Help You Need, Paternity and Child Support, Reporting Abuse & Preventing Violence, Foster Care Providers.
How to Apply for Public Assistance
All applications for assistance are taken at the County’s Northern Service Center:
1 Mendota Road West, Suite 100 , West St Paul, MN 55118-4765
Main number: 651-554-5611
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00a.m. – 4:45p.m.
Walk-in Intake Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00a.m. – 9:45a.m.
How to Apply for Child Support or Paternity Services
Use the website to apply online. An application for child support/paternity services is also available:
By mail – Call 651-554-5689 or 651-554-5852 to request an application
At county service centers – Hastings, Apple Valley, or West St Paul
Online – from the Minnesota Child Support Enforcement Division web site.
Minnesota Child Support Enforcement Division
For application for support and collections services and information on child support enforcement. General questions on child support call Dakota County at 651-554-5909. Questions on applying for services call 651-554-5689 or 651-554-5852.
Consumer
Information about when heat can be shut off in winter.
The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office answers questions and takes complaints on a variety of consumer concerns
Consumer and heating assistance information
Disabilities
Americans with Disabilities Act
This site has a guide to disability rights and questions and answers about this law.
Education
SMRLS’s Education Law Advocacy Project
Links to fact sheets and other links for school issues such as discipline, disciple for students with disabilities, education rights for homeless youth, etc.
Housing
A non-profit organization that provides information about housing. It does not provide housing or have direct lists of housing for individuals.
Fair Housing – Disability Discrimination
Fair Housing Advocate, National
Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities
Manufactured Home Park Information
A Minnesota Attorney General Site
Legal Research
Minnesota Statutes and Session Laws
Public Benefits
Eligibility screening tool for many of the benefit programs in Minnesota
From the Minnesota Department of Commerce
Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)
Food Stamps Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool
USDA Food and Nutrition Service site
Minnesota Legal Services Advocacy Project
Minnesota Legal Services Advocacy Project does not provide direct legal services to clients.
Minnesota Department of Human Services
Minnesota Department of Human Resources Publications
Links to Social Security Regulations and other useful links for Social Security cases
Seniors
A free, easy-to-use service that identifies federal and state assistance programs for older Americans.
An advocate’s reference from AARP via National Center on Poverty Law.
Minnesota Kinship Caregivers Association
Advocates for, supports, and provides information and resources to people raising their grandchildren.
National Senior Citizens Law Center
A Minnesota Attorney General Site
