Provides support and services for individuals who are at risk of guardianship and/or conservatorship and their caregivers through consultation, referrals, and information. Through in-depth assessments, families and professionals determine if guardianship or conservatorship is the right decision and offer less restrictive alternatives when appropriate. Services may include: ?- Assessments: Offers in-depth, objective phone consultations and in-person assessments to determine the appropriate level of care needed. Can also assist in contested guardianship or conservatorship court cases to enable parties to come to terms of settlement or provide strength to a position (either in favor or against the appointment of a guardian or conservator) ?- Advocacy and Coaching: Engages with family members and involved professionals to determine and implement workable alternatives to court intervention or provide supportive non-legal coaching through the petitioning process ?- Petitioner: When an assessment rules out less restrictive alternatives and there is no one in the individual's life to do so, legal assistance may be available to file a petition with the court seeking the appointment of a guardian and/or conservator or to request the court modify or terminate an existing guardianship. Provides a free Guardianship Information Helpline to assist families in determining the best path forward for each individual who needs support and services, including: - Approaches to help address the concern, which may avoid the need for guardianship/conservatorship, including facilitating less restrictive alternatives - Needs of the adult experiencing difficulties - Practical intervention tips to assist the caregiver to be more effective in working with the individual - Supported decision making - The guardianship and conservatorship system

Represents the county in the following types of cases: - Child protection/CHIPS cases - Child support and paternity - Commitments - Conservatorship - Criminal and delinquency prosecution - Guardianships - Legal representation of boards and agencies - Vulnerable adult protection

Responsibilities of the County Attorney's Office include: - Child and adult protection representation - Child support and paternity cases - Commitments for mental illness, chemical dependency or mental retardation - Conservatorships - Crime witness support - Criminal and delinquency prosecution; district attorney - Criminal protective orders - Domestic/family violence legal services - Guardianships - Initiates CHIPS (Child in need of protection or services) - Juvenile diversion - Legal representation of county boards and agencies - Prosecutes misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors and felonies - Requests restitution; crime victim compensation - Restraining orders - Stalking/Harassment orders - Temporary and permanent restraining orders - Victim notification

Attorney services include: - Child custody decrees - Child protection representation - Child support assistance/enforcement - Conservatorship assistance - County counsel - Court filing assistance - Crime victim compensation - Crime victim notification services - Crime victim assistance - Crime witness support - Criminal law - District Attorney - Domestic/family violence legal services - Estate entitlement assistance - Guardianship assistance - Juvenile delinquency prosecution and diversion - Paternity suits - Paternity/maternity establishment - Permanent restraining orders - Stalking/harassment orders - Temporary restraining orders - Third-party involuntary commitment petition services The County Attorney is not permitted to provide legal advice to citizens, but can refer them to a department, agency, or private law firm that can help them.

Responsibilities of the County Attorney's Office include: - Child custody decrees - Child protection cases - Child support and paternity matters - County civil matters - Delinquency cases; juvenile court - Guardianships - Juvenile diversion - Legal representation of county boards and county agencies - Prosecutes criminal cases and traffic violations - Restraining and harassment orders; orders for protection

- Child and adult protection representation - Child custody orders - Child support and paternity cases - Commitments for mental illness, chemical dependency, or mental retardation - Conservatorships - Crime witness support; victim notification - Criminal and delinquency prosecution; District Attorney - Criminal protective orders - Domestic/family violence legal services - Guardianships - Initiates CHIPS (Child in need of protection or services) - Juvenile diversion - Legal representation of county boards and agencies; county counsel - Prosecutes misdemeanors and felonies - Requests restitution - Stalking/Harassment orders - Temporary and permanent restraining orders

For vulnerable adults who can no longer make the decisions necessary to care for themselves of their finances, and who have no family or friends available to do it for them. These persons may include people with developmental or acquired disabilities, people with mental illness, or the frail elderly. As the court-appointed guardian/conservator, LSS is given the legal responsibility for managing the personal & financial affairs of these incapacitated individuals. Responsibilities (dependent upon court order) include: - Establish place of residence - Determine & provide for care needs - Care for personal property - Consent to necessary medical or other professional care - Approve or withhold approval of contracts - Pay reasonable charges for support of the client - Pay debts - Possess and manage the estate, collect debts and claims due the client, and invest funds

Civil Division: - Advises and represents the community social services department under state and federal mandates Criminal Division: - Prosecutes criminal acts and provides leadership to law enforcement Juvenile Division: - The Juvenile Division attorneys carry a caseload of both juvenile prosecution cases and child protection cases Victim-Witness Division: - Fulfills statutorily mandated advocacy assistance, information and services for victims and witnesses Services Include: - Child Custody Decrees - Child Support Assistance/Enforcement - Conservatorship Assistance - County Counsel - Crime Victim Compensation - Crime Victim Notification Services - Crime Witness Support - Criminal Law - District Attorney - Domestic/Family Violence Legal Services - Estate Entitlement Assistance - General Crime Victim Assistance - Guardianship Assistance - Juvenile Diversion - Paternity Suits - Paternity/Maternity Establishment - Permanent Restraining Orders - Stalking/Harassment Orders

- Child and adult protection representation - Child custody decrees - Child support and paternity cases on behalf of the human services agency - Commitments - Conservatorships - Crime witness support - Crime victim assistance and notification - Crime victim compensation - Criminal and delinquency prosecution; juvenile diversion - Guardianships - Legal representation of county boards and agencies - Restraining Orders The Martin County Attorney does not provide personal services to individual residents

Responsibilities of the County Attorney's Office include: - Child custody decrees - Child protection cases - Child support and paternity matters - Conservatorships - County civil matters - Crime victim assistance and compensation - Crime victim notification service - Crime witness support - Delinquency cases; juvenile court - Family court - Guardianships - Juvenile diversion - Law library - Prosecutes criminal cases - Restraining and harassment orders; orders for protection

Private attorneys agree to take cases for clients who have been screened through the intake process and either need representation in a matter that is not an area of Legal Assistance of Olmsted County's expertise, or where there is a conflict of interest. Areas of available legal assistance may include: - Consumer/financial law - Elder law/wills - Employment law - Family law - Guardianship/conservatorship law - Immigration law - Landlord/tenant housing law - Property/real estate law

Legal assistance for older adults in the areas of: - Assisted living and nursing home problems - Conservatorship assistance - advice only - Consumer/debtor rights - Discrimination: health care, housing, unemployment - Grandparent rights - Guardianship assistance - advice only - Public benefits: Medical Assistance and SSI

- Receives payments of fines to Court system - Handles Traffic Violations and Fines - Handles preparations for the following type of cases: Conciliation, Appeals, Probate, Adoption and Trustee - Provides Jury duty information - Handles Criminal, Juvenile and Civil Divisions of Court as well as Family Court including Support, Paternity, Post-divorce motions, Visitations and Custody - Jury Selection

- County Counsel - Child and adult protection representation - Child support and paternity cases - Commitments, guardianships, conservatorships - Legal representation of county boards and agencies - Provides criminal and delinquency prosecution as the District Attorney - Victim/witness coordinator: advises crime victims of their legal rights and the status of their cases

Responsibilities of the County Attorney's Office include: - Child custody decrees - Child protection cases - Child support and paternity matters - Conservatorships - County civil matters - Crime victim assistance and compensation - Crime victim notification service - Crime witness support - Delinquency cases; juvenile court - Family court - Guardianships - Juvenile diversion - Law library - Prosecutes criminal cases - Restraining and harassment orders; orders for protection

Provides necessary legal representation in criminal matters, civil matters, juvenile matters, and child protection matters; providing representation to county departments and legal advice concerning county legislative matters; and providing assistance and support in law enforcement training. Services include: - Child and adult protection representation - Child support and paternity cases - Commitments - Conservatorships - Criminal and delinquency prosecution - Guardianships

Responsibilities of the County Attorney's Office include: - Child abuse, neglect, and truancy - Gross misdemeanor cases and misdemeanors occurring outside of County municipalities - Judicial commitments for chemical dependency and mental illness - Juvenile delinquency matters wherever they occur in the County ?- Provides advice and assistance to all law enforcement personnel - Public Conservatorship - Public Guardianship

Provides assessment, intake, information and referral, and case management for adults with mental health needs. Case management services address individual needs related to diagnoses such as: - Acute/situational depression - Bipolar disorder - Borderline personality disorder - Major depression - Schizophrenia Additional services may include case planning, consultation, crisis intervention, legal commitments, guardianship/conservatorship, facilitation of hospitalizations, and other residential placements.

- Criminal and delinquency prosecution - Child and adult protection representation - Legal representation of county boards and agencies - CHIPS cases - Child support and paternity - Commitments - Guardianships - Conservatorships

- Criminal and delinquency prosecution - Child and adult protection representation - Legal representation of county boards and agencies - CHIPS cases - Child support and paternity - Commitments - Guardianships - Conservatorships

Provides guardian and estate services to help individuals with their legal, medical, and financial affairs. Guardianship and Conservatorship: - Guardians are appointed to help individuals manage their living situation, health needs, and/or financial affairs. Guardians work with medical, social providers, and caregivers to ensure essential care for the individual. - Conservators are appointed to manage and preserve assets of the protected individual. Conservators secures assets, pays bills, and manages the individual's financial, real estate, and other assets. Health Care Agent: - Health care agents decide how to handle unanticipated medical situations if individuals are unable to communicate their needs. A health care directive may be completed by the health care agent to guide medical decisions on behalf of the individual. Personal Representative of the Estate: - A person or organization an individual chooses to settle their estate and carry out requests outlined in their will, wishes, and directives. Pooled Trust Services: - A financial investment tool used to preserve funds that enhance the quality of life for individuals living with a disability. Establishing a pooled trust can help protect eligibility for public benefits while still maintaining assets from other sources. Power of Attorney: - A written agreement that allows a person or organization an individual chooses to manage their legal and financial affairs. Services can be one-time specific such as handling the sale of a property, paying bills, balancing financial accounts, or preparing forms. Supported Decision Making: - A model of care for individuals with cognitive impairment that provides decision-making support to prevent unnecessary guardianship or to help support a restoration of rights for individuals already under guardianship. Decision-making support includes employment, finance, health care, legal matters, living arrangements, and relationships.

Adoption Services: Places children who have come into foster care and are not able to return to their birth parents' home with an adoptive family. Steps to become an adoptive parent can be found online. Guardianships and Conservatorships: Guardianship is a legal arrangement where one person, who is appointed by a court, has the legal right and duty to care for another adult who is unable to make responsible personal decisions or meet personal needs. The primary purpose is to provide for the ward's care, comfort, and maintenance needs. Conservatorship is a similar legal arrangement where one person is appointed by a court to handle financial affairs of an adult who is unable to make responsible personal decisions. Ramsey County financially supports wards' legal and professional guardianship needs if they meet the indigent status as outlined in state statute.

Provides legal advice and representation for individuals subject to guardianship or conservatorship.

- Child and adult protection representation - Child support and paternity cases - Commitments for mental illness, chemical dependency or mental retardation - Conservatorships - Crime witness support - Criminal and delinquency prosecution; district attorney - Criminal protective orders - District Attorney - Domestic/family violence legal services - Guardianships - Initiates CHIPS (Child in need of protection or services) - Juvenile diversion - Legal representation of county boards and agencies - Prosecutes misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors and felonies - Requests restitution; crime victim compensation - Restraining orders - Stalking/Harassment orders - Temporary and permanent restraining orders - Victim notification

Responsibilities of the County Attorney's Office include: - Adult prosecution - Child custody decrees - Child protection cases - Child support and paternity matters - Civil advice - Family services - Juvenile prosecution - Pursuing improvement and prevention: Plays an important role in seeking new laws to strengthen law enforcement, criminal justice, child protection, victim's rights, and other areas. Also participates in efforts to prevent or reduce crime in the local communities and statewide. - Victim/Witness Assistance