Updated 2007
The Law and Aging Guide is a comprehensive listing of the state-wide resources available to help older persons with law-related issues. Published by the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, the Guide includes important contact numbers and addresses for legal assistance providers and other law-related services for the elderly. Many states now have toll-free senior legal hotlines. If you are an older person (or family member or trusted friend of an older person) who needs legal advice or assistance, the first step is to see if your state has a hotline, and, if it does, to call the hotline listed below.
[Note: If you are legal services provider or entity listed below, please email any changes of address or information to the ABA Commission at abaelderly@abanet.org , attn: Law and Aging Guide.]
Minnesota
A. Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota (800) 450-8585
B. Legal Assistance Developer
Krista Boston, Supervisor
Consumer Choices Team
Aging and Adult Services Division
Continuing Care Administration
Department of Human Services
P.O. Box 64967
St. Paul, MN 55164-0967
(651) 431-2605; fax (651) 431-7453
C. Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Maria Michlin
Acting State Ombudsman
Office of Ombudsman for Older Minnesotans
540 Cedar St.
P.O. Box 64971
St. Paul, MN 55164
(615) 431-2552; fax (651)431-7452
D. Legal Services Funded Under the Older Americans Act
If your income falls within certain guidelines, you may be able to get legal help from the Legal Services or Legal Aid program in your area. In some communities, the Older Americans Act program serving older people and the legal aid program are one and the same. For a state-by-state listing of Legal Services programs, go to http://www.lsc.gov
Region 1: Northwest
NWRDC
115 South Main
Warren, MN 56762
(218) 745-6733
Web: www.nwrdc.org/aging.htm
Serves Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Roseau
Region 3: Arrowhead
221 West 1st St.
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 722-5545; (800) 232-0707
Web: www.ardc.org/aaa
Serves Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis
Region 4: West Central
(218) 739-4617
Serves Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin
Region 6E: Mid-Minnesota
(320) 235-8504
Serves Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker and Renville
Region 6W: Upper MN Valley
(320) 289-1981
Serves Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Swift and Yellow Medicine
Region 7E: East Central
(320) 679-4065
Serves Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine
Region 7W: Central MN Council on Aging
2700 1st Street N
Suite 307
St. Cloud MN 56301
(320) 253-9349
Web: www.cmcoa.org
Serves Cass, Crow Wing, Benton, Morrison, Todd, Wadena, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright
Region 8: Southwest
(507) 836-8547
Serves Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood and Rock
Region 9
(800) 450-5643
P.O. Box 3367 410 E Jackson St.
Mankato, MN 56002
Suite 400
Web: www.rndc.org
Serves Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Sibley, Watonwan and Waseca
Region 10: Southeastern
421 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 201
Rochester, MN 55902
(507) 288-6944
Web: www.semaaarochestermn.org
Serves Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha and Winona
Region 11: Metropolitan
Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging
1600 University Avenue West, Suite 300
Saint Paul, MN 55104
(651) 641-8612
Web: www.tcaging.org
Serves Carver, Dakota, Ramsey, Washington Hennepin, Anoka
Region 12: MN Chippewa
(218) 335-8581
Serves Minnesota Chippewa Tribes
(Serving residents of Leech Lake, White Earth, and Red Lake Reservations.)
E. Bar Committees/Sections
Elder Law Section
Minnesota State Bar Association
Douglas J. Debner, Chair
600 Nicollet Mall #380
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 333-1183; (800) 882-6722
Web: http://www.mnbar.org/
F. National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
- Minnesota Chapter
None listed
G. Legal Assistance Projects Involving Private Attorneys
Many communities are also served by volunteer lawyer (pro bono) programs. These programs are usually sponsored by bar associations. Lawyers in private practice volunteer to help low-income persons free of charge. To find the pro bono program in your state, click on http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/findlegalhelp/probonodirectory.html
The Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) publishes a Directory of Pro Bono Opportunities for Attorneys that includes a section on Elder Law. The association also operates a bar referral service, which covers 84 Minnesota Counties (MSBA Attorney Referral Service, 600 Nicollet Mall, Ste. 380, Minneapolis, MN 55402, (800) 292-4152 (Clients Only)). Attorneys may call (612) 333-1183 or (800) 882-6722). Henepin, Ramsey, and Dakota counties have their own bar referral services.
The Minnesota Senior Federation Metropolitan Region has reduced-fee legal services available to federation members in several areas of the state. Reduced fee wills and other legal services are available from private attorneys. Call or write for information on membership and legal services available: Metropolitan Senior Federation (Twin Cities Metropolitan Area) 1885 University Ave., W., St. Paul, MN 55104, (651) 645-0261.
Minnesota Age and Opportunity Center (1807 Nicollet Ave., S., Minneapolis, MN 55403, (612) 863-1000) provides legal assistance to seniors for a modest fee, with some free services when funding is available.
H. Law Schools and Legal Clinics
Law Schools
Univeristy of Minnesota Law School
Walter F. Mondale Hall
229 19th Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(612) 625-5515
Web: http://www.law@tc.umn.edu
William Mitchell College of Law
875 Summit Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55105-3076
(651) 227-9171
Hamline University
1536 Hewitt
St. Paul, MN 55104
(651) 523-2800
Legal Clinics
T. M. Cooley Law School - Sixty Plus Elderlaw Clinic
P.O. Box 13038
Lansing, MI 48901
(517) 371-5140 x2628; fax (517) 334-5761
Web: http://www.cooley.edu.
Terrence F. Cavanaugh, Assoc. Professor
I. Attorney General's Office
Lori Swanson, Attorney General
State Capitol, Ste. 102
St. Paul, MN 55155
(800) 657-3787
Web: http://www.ag.state.mn.us
The Minnesota Attorney General's Office produces a free handbook entitled Seniors' Legal Rights. The Attorney General's Consumer Protection staff answers questions about telemarketing fraud, unwanted mail and phone calls, landlord and tenant rights, cars, credit issues, and other consumer complaints.
J. State Protection and Advocacy Agencies
Minnesota Disability Law Center
430 First Ave., N., Ste. 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1780
(612) 332-1441; (800) 292-4150; fax (612) 334-5755
Web: www.mndlc.org
K. Dispute Resolution
Minnesota Office of Dispute Resolution
340 Centennial Office Bldg.
St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 296-2633; fax (651) 297-7200
Email: mnodr@igc.apc.org
The Office of Dispute Resolution was established in 1985 to promote the use of means other than litigation for resolving disputes affecting the public interest. In fulfilling its purpose, the office provides technical assistance, training, and information services to state, federal, and local government agencies throughout Minnesota. The office provides neutral, third party assistance to public agencies wishing to resolve disputes through mediation; facilitates public or group meetings of an informational, fact-finding, regulatory or policy development nature, and sponsors training seminars to improve the conflict management skills of public employees and elected officials.
Dispute Resolution Center
265 Oneida St.
St. Paul, MN 55102
(612) 291-2799
Contact: James Levin
In order to provide education and mediation services to residents of senior housing complexes, the center invited representatives of resident councils of senior high-rises to participate on a planning committee, identified ten housing complexes for extended outreach, developed information tables at the sites, held small group meetings with resident councils and floor monitors, trained current and new mediators in working with the elderly, and held a roundtable discussion with senior advocacy organizations. As a result, the center mediated 11 cases of seniors, mostly landlord-tenant and personal relationships, and recommended more staff training in buildings and creating a "continual presence where residents could stop and chat."
L. Other Projects
Minnesota Kinship Caregivers
(651) 290-7473
The Minnesota Kinship Caregivers Association was established in 1995 to raise awareness about kinship issues and to support the efforts of caregivers who are raising their grandchildren or other related children. In fulfilling it's purpose, the organization ensures that support systems for kinship caregivers are established in local communities, advocate for children and their caregivers and serves as an education resource and clearinghouse of information on kinship caregiving issues.
