Resources: Helpful Links and Information

Disclaimer: Information from each resource is current as of the date it was published.

We have curated links to a variety of websites and resources to help you. If you have any questions, please Contact Us today!

• Language Guide for this Page
• General Elder Law Resources
• Articles Written for the Special Needs Alliance’s The Voice®
• Resources Featuring Our Attorneys
• Federal and State Agencies
• Find Legal Representation in the U.S.
• Find Legal Representation in Minnesota
• Local Non-Profit (Legal Aid) Organizations
• Resources for Guardians and Conservators
• Resources for Folks with Disabilities
• Resources for Seniors (Aged 65+)
• Resources for U.S. Military Veterans
• Reporting Tools from Minnesota State Agencies
• Reporting Tools from U.S. Government Agencies
• Additional Information

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Language Guide for this Page

On this page, government entities are referred to using words like:

• Agency
• Department
• Office
• Administration
• Bureau
• Court
• Service
• Branch

The range where government entities function is called:

• State (Minnesota)
• Federal (U.S.)

Private or non-governmental entities are referred to using words like:

• Organization/Org
• Alliance
• Consortium
• Association
• Coalition
• Non-profit
• Network
• Center

The range where non-governmental entities function is called:

• Local (Minnesota)
• National (U.S.)

Bolded black text marks all resources that link straight to an entity—such as to a government agency or a private organization—as opposed to resources that link to a guide or a tool.

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General Elder Law Resources

• Questions to Ask When Choosing a Special Needs and Elder Law Attorney | NorthwoodsLawGroup.com
• Top Ten Things to Discuss with an Elder Law Attorney (PDF) | NorthwoodsLawGroup.com (RTF version)
• Medical Assistance (“M.A.”) Renewals Links | NorthwoodsLawGroup.com
• Free Legal Dictionary - Legal Terms and Definitions | TheFreeDictionary.com

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Articles Written for the Special Needs Alliance's The Voice®

• Fixing a Broken Trust (PDF) | NorthwoodsLawGroup.com
• The Benefits of Using a Corporate Trustee (PDF) | NorthwoodsLawGroup.com
• What Happens when Persons Living with Disabilities Marry? | SpecialNeedsAlliance.com
• Mental Illness Awareness Month: A Largely Unaddressed Epidemic | SpecialNeedsAlliance.com
• Developing an Estate Plan for Parents of Children with Disabilities: A 15-Step Approach | SpecialNeedsAlliance.com
• SNAP! Food Assistance for Persons with Disabilities | SpecialNeedsAlliance.com
• Distributions from Special Needs Trusts: In Kind Distributions, Credit Cards, Gift Cards, or Debit Cards | SpecialNeedsAlliance.com
• Recommended Books for the Special Needs Community: If You Could Take a Pill to Become Typical, Would You? | SpecialNeedsAlliance.com
• Recommended Books for the Special Needs Community, Second Installment | SpecialNeedsAlliance.com
• Planning for the Future: How Does the First-Party Special Needs Trust Fit in the Plan? | TheArc.org

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Resources Featuring Our Attorneys

• Beware Medicaid Estate Claims | Forbes.com
• Pennies On the Dollar: How Minnesota's Estate-Recovery Program Helps, and Hurts, Vulnerable Residents | TPTOriginals.org
• House of Hanson: How Laurie Hanson's Home Life Informs Her Elder Law Practice and Advocacy Efforts | SuperLawyers.com
• WATCH: Medicaid Estate-Recovery Series Continues | TPTOriginals.org (5:08, English, CC)
• The Perilous Path to Long-Term Care by Laura Zdychnec (PDF) | NorthwoodsLawGroup.com

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Federal and State Agencies

• U.S. Agency: U.S. Social Security Administration (“S.S.A.”) | SSA.gov (under U.S. Govt.’s Executive Branch)
• Contact the SSA | SSA.gov
• U.S. Agency: U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“I.R.S.”) | IRS.gov (under U.S. Dept. of the Treasury, under U.S. Executive Branch)
• Contact the IRS | IRS.gov
• MN Agency: Minnesota Department of Revenue (“MN D.O.R.”) | Revenue.State.MN.us (under IRS, under Dept. of the Treasury, under U.S. Executive Branch)
• Contact the DOR | Revenue.State.MN.us
• U.S. Department: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“V.A.”) | VA.gov (under U.S. Executive Branch)
• Contact the VA | VA.gov
• U.S. Agency: Veterans Benefits Administration ("V.B.A") (under the VA, under U.S. Executive Branch)
• Contact the VBA | Benefits.VA.gov
• MN Agency: Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (“M.D.V.A.”) | MN.gov (under the VA, under U.S. Executive Branch)
• Contact the MDVA | MN.gov
• U.S. Department: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) | HUD.gov (under U.S. Executive Branch)
• U.S. Guide (HUD): HUD: Frequently Asked Questions | HUD.gov

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• U.S. Department: United States Department of Health and Human Services (“H.H.S.”) | HHS.gov (under U.S. Executive Branch)
• Contact HHS | HHS.gov
• U.S. Agency Program (HHS): U.S. Healthcare Insurance Marketplace | HealthCare.gov
• U.S. Tool (HHS): Compare Healthcare Providers and Facilities | HHS.gov
• U.S. Guide (HHS): Resources for Caregivers | HHS.gov
• Multi-Agency U.S. Tool/Guide: U.S. Health Benefits Finder | Benefits.gov
• U.S. Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration (“H.R.S.A.”) | HRSA.gov (under Dept. of Health and Human Services, under U.S. Executive Branch)
• Contact the HRSA | HRSA.gov
• U.S. Agency: National Institute of Health (“N.I.H.”) | NIH.gov (under Dept. of HHS, under U.S. Executive Branch)
• Contact the NIH | NIH.gov
• U.S. Agency: National Institute on Aging (“N.I.A.”) | NIA.NIH.gov (under NIH, under HHS, under U.S. Executive Branch)
• Contact the NIA | NIA.NIH.gov
• U.S. Agency: U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“C.M.S.”) | CMS.gov (under HHS, under U.S. Executive Branch)
• U.S. Agency Program (CMS): U.S. Medicaid Program | Medicaid.gov
• U.S. Agency Program (CMS): U.S. Medicare Program | Medicare.gov
• U.S. Guide by Agency (CMS): Your Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home or Other Long-Term Care Services & Supports (PDF) | Medicare.gov
• U.S. Agency: Administration for Community Living (“A.C.L.”) | ACL.gov (under HHS, under U.S. Executive Branch)
• Contact the ACL | ACL.gov

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• U.S. Office: Office of the United States Attorney General (“O.A.G.”) | Justice.gov (under U.S. Dept. of Justice, under U.S. Executive Branch)
• Contact the U.S. Attorney General’s Office | Justice.gov
• MN State Office: U.S. Attorney’s Office: District of Minnesota (“U.S.A.O.-MN”) | Justice.gov (under OAG, under U.S. DOJ, under U.S. Executive Branch)
• Contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota | Justice.gov
• MN State Office: Minnesota’s Attorney General’s Office (“MN A.G.”) | AG.State.MN.us (under USAO-MN, under OAG, under DOJ, under U.S. Executive Branch)
• Contact the Office of Minnesota’s Attorney General | AG.State.MN.us
• MN Agency: Minnesota Department of Human Services (“M.D.H.S.” aka “D.H.S.”) | MN.gov (under CMS, under HHS, under U.S. Executive Branch)
• Contact DHS | MN.gov
• DHS Directory of Contact Information for Programs and Agencies | MN.gov
• DHS Directory of Contact Phone Numbers by Program Topic | MN.gov
• List of DHS Programs | MN.gov
• DHS Bulletins | DHS.State.MN.us
• DHS News Releases | MN.gov
• DHS Publications | MN.gov
• DHS Fact Sheets | MN.gov
• MN Agency: Minnesota Department of Health (“M.D.H.”) | Health.State.MN.us (under MN’s Governor’s Office)
• Contact MDH | Health.State.MN.us
• MDH List of Frequently Called Numbers by Topic in the Health Regulation Division | Health.State.MN.us
• MN Guide by Agency (MDH): MDH Home Care Information for Consumers, Families, and Caregivers | Health.State.MN.us
• MN Guide by Agency (MDH): MDH Nursing Home Facilities Index | Health.State.MN.us
• MN Guide by Agency (MDH): MDH Nursing Home Inspection Survey | Health.State.MN.us
• MN State Courts: Minnesota Judicial Branch ("M.J.B.") | MNCourts.gov (under U.S. Govt.’s Judicial Branch)
• MN Courts Guide (MJB): Minnesota District Courts’ Legal Self-Help Center | MNCourts.gov

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Find Legal Representation in the U.S.

• Find a Lawyer through the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (“NAELA”) | NAELA.com
• Find a Lawyer through the Special Needs Alliance (“S.N.A.”) | SpecialNeedsAlliance.org
• Find a Lawyer through the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives ("NOSSCR") | NOSSCR.org
• Find a Lawyer through the VA's Office of General Counsel | VA.gov

Find Legal Representation in Minnesota

• Find a Lawyer through MN’s Judicial Branch (MJB) | MNCourts.gov
• Find a Lawyer through the Minnesota State Bar Association (“M.S.B.A.”) | MNBar.org
• Find a Lawyer through the Minnesota Lawyer Referral and Information Service (“M.N.L.R.I.S.”) | MNLawyerReferral.org
• Search by Name: Check if a Lawyer is Licensed to Practice Law in Minnesota | LPRB.MNCourts.gov

Local Legal Aid (Non-Profit) Organizations

• Estate & Elder Law Services (“E.&E.L.S.”) | VoAMNWI.org
• Volunteer Lawyers Network (“V.L.N.”) Minnesota | VLNMN.org
• Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid | MyLegalAid.org
• Minnesota Disability Law Center (“M.D.L.C.”) | MyLegalAid.org
• Central Minnesota Legal Services (“C.M.L.S.”) | CentralMNLegal.org
• Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (“SMRLS”) | SMRLS.org
• Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota (“LASNEM”) | LASNEM.org
• Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota (“L.S.N.M.”) | LSNMLaw.org
• Anishinabe Legal Services | ALSLegal.org

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Resources for Guardians and Conservators

• U.S. Org: National Guardianship Association (“N.G.A.”) | Guardianship.org
• MN Org: Minnesota Association for Guardianship and Conservatorship (“MAGiC”) | MinnesotaGuardianship.org
• MN Guide by Org (MAGiC): Minnesota Standards of Practice for Guardians and Conservators (PDF) | MinnesotaGuardianship.org
• MN Org: Metropolitan Guardians and Conservators | MetropolitanGuardiansAndConservators.com
• MN State Courts: Minnesota Judicial Branch (MJB) Resources | MNCourts.gov
• Minnesota Bill of Rights for Persons Subject to Guardianship or Conservatorship | Revisor.MN.gov
• Minnesota Guardianship and Conservatorship Manual (PDF) | MNCourts.gov
• Printable Tipsheet for Guardians (PDF) | MNCourts.gov
• Online Tool (MJB): My Minnesota Guardian (“M.M.G.”) | MNCourts.gov
• Online Tool (MJB): My Minnesota Conservator (“M.M.C.”) | MNCourts.gov
• Online Tool Guide (MJB): YouTube Playlist of MMC Tutorial Videos | MNJudicialBranch’s YouTube Channel

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Resources for Folks with Disabilities

• U.S. Law: U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act (“A.D.A.”) | ADA.gov
• U.S. Guide by Org (ADATA): The ADA and Caregivers: Frequently Asked Questions | ADATA.org
• U.S. Guide by Department (HUD): HUD: Disability Overview | HUD.gov
• U.S. Guide by Agency (ACL): ACL’s Disability Information and Access Line (“DIAL”) | ACL.gov/DIAL
• Detailed List of MN and U.S. Orgs and Agencies by Org (PACER): Resource List of Disability Organizations, Descriptions, and Contact Info Compiled by the PACER Center (PDF) | PACER.org
• Multi-Agency MN Guide/Tool: Disability Minnesota | MN.gov
• MN Tool by Agency (DHS): MDHS's Job Board for PCAs, Direct Support Connect | DirectSupportConnect.com
• MN Guide by Agency (DHS): 2023 Healthcare Choices for Minnesotans on Medicare
• List of MN Orgs by Org (Access Press): Directory of Disability Organizations Compiled by Minnesota's Access Press | AccessPress.org
• MN Org: Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) | MCIL-MN.org
• List of MN Orgs by Org (MCIL): Resources List from MCIL’s ADA Minnesota | MCIL-MN.org
• MN Org: Disability Hub Minnesota | DisabilityHubMN.org – 866-333-2466
• MN Guide by Org (Disability Hub): Disability Benefits 101 | MN.DB101.org
• MN Guide by Org (Disability Hub): Housing Benefits 101 | MN.HB101.org
• MN Org: Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MNCCD) | MNCCD.org

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Resources for Seniors (Aged 65+)

• U.S. Law: U.S. Older Americans Act (“O.A.A.”) | ACL.gov
• U.S. Org: American Seniors Housing Association (“ASHA”) | ASHALiving.org
• U.S. Guide by Org (ASHA): ASHA’s Senior Living Resources | WhereYouLiveMatters.org
• U.S. Org: American Association of Retired Persons (“A.A.R.P.”) | AARP.org
• U.S. Guide by Org (AARP): AARP Report: Caregiving in the US | AARP.org
• List of U.S. Links (HUD): HUD: Housing Information for Seniors | HUD.gov
• U.S. Tool by Agency (ACL): ACL’s Eldercare Locator | ElderCare.ACL.gov
• U.S. Agency Program (ACL): ACL’s Elder Justice Sites | ElderJustice.ACL.gov
• U.S. Agency Program (ACL): ACL’s U.S. Administration on Aging | ACL.gov
• MN Guide by Org: Twin Cities Senior Housing Guide | SeniorHousingGuide.us
• MN Guide (MN AG’s Office): Resources for Seniors | AG.State.MN.us
• MN Guide (MN AG’s Office): Seniors’ Legal Rights Handbook | AG.State.MN.us
• MN Agency Program (DHS): Minnesota Board on Aging (“M.B.A.”) | MN.gov
• List of MN Agencies (MBA): Area Agencies on Aging | MN.gov
• MN Tool by Agency (MBA/DHS): Senior LinkAge Line – Minnesota Services and Resources for Seniors | MN.gov – 800-333-2433
• MN Guide by Agency (MBA/DHS): 2023 Healthcare Choices for Minnesotans on Medicare
• MN Org: Minnesota Elder Justice Center | ElderJusticeMN.org
• MN Org: Dakota Area Resources and Transportation for Seniors (“DARTS”) | DARTSConnects.org
• Contact DARTS | DARTSConnects.org
• MN Org: Minneapolis-Saint Paul’s Care Options Network for Seniors | CareOptionsNetwork.org

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Resources for U.S. Military Veterans

• List of U.S. Links (VA): Programs and Services Offered by the U.S. VA | VA.gov
• U.S. Agency Program (VA & HUD): HUDVet | HUD.gov
• List of U.S. Resources and Contact Info (VA & HUD): HUDVet National Veterans Resources (PDF) | HUDExchange.info
• U.S. Guide by Agency (VA & HUD): Veteran Housing Assistance | HUDExchange.info
• MN Agency Program (MDVA): MDVA's Minnesota Veterans Homes (“M.V.H.”) Program | MN.gov
• MN Tool by Agency (MDVA): Veterans Linkage Line | LinkVet.org – 888-546-5838
• U.S. Guide by Agency (Congressional Research Service): Benefits for Service-Disabled Veterans | CRSReports.Congress.gov
• U.S. Guide by Committee (U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs): Informational Resources for Veterans | Veterans.Senate.gov
• U.S. Guide by Agency Program (Defense Health Agency's Recovery Coordination Program): National Resource Directory | NRD.gov

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Reporting Tools from Minnesota State Agencies

• Report Adult Abuse to Minnesota’s Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) | MN.gov
• Submit a Complaint Against a Facility to MDH’s Office of Health Facility Complaints (OHFC) | Health.State.MN.us
• Submit a Fraud Report Form to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office | AG.State.MN.us
• Submit an “Appeal to State Agency” to DHS (Form DHS-0033) | DHS.State.MN.us
• Report Fraud or Abuse Involving a DHS-Funded Program | MN.gov

Reporting Tools from U.S. Government Agencies

• Report Housing Discrimination to HUD | HUD.gov
• Report a Civil Rights Violation to the U.S. Civil Rights Division of the DoJ | CivilRights.Justice.gov
• Report a Violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act | ADA.gov
• Submit Online Comments on Proposed and Current Regulations for Nearly 300 Federal Agencies | Regulations.gov

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Additional Information

• Federal and State Legislation
• U.S. Legislation: United States Congress | Congress.gov
• MN Legislation: Minnesota State Legislature | Leg.State.MN.us
• Information from USA.gov:
• List of U.S. Agencies: A-to-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies | USA.gov
• Information on U.S. Laws and Legal Issues | USA.gov
• Information on U.S. Government Benefits | USA.gov
• Information on U.S. Housing Help | USA.gov
• Information on U.S. Disability Services | USA.gov
• Information on U.S. Veterans Health | USA.gov
• Detailed Information on the Structure of Federal Agencies and U.S. Government Activities: U.S. Federal Register: The Daily Journal of the United States Government | FederalRegister.gov
• Information from MN.gov:
• Links and Descriptions of Minnesota State Agencies, Boards, and Commissions | MN.gov
• Search for State Employee Contact Information in the “State White Pages” | MN.gov
• Online Resident Portal | MN.gov
• Legal Resources in Minnesota | MN.gov
• Social Services in Minnesota | MN.gov
• List of MN Orgs by Agency (DHS): Local Resource Directory for Social Services by Minnesota Help | MinnesotaHelp.info
• MN Org: Minnesota Legal Services Coalition (“M.L.S.C.”)
• (Minnesota’s legal aid organizations are members of this coalition)
• MN Org Program (MLSC): Legal Services State Support (“L.S.S.S.”) | MNLegalServices.org
• MN Guide by Org (LSSS): LawHelpMN Guide | MNLegalServices.org
• MN Guide by Org (LSSS): LawHelpMN Fact Sheets | LawHelpMN.org
• MN Tool by Org (LSSS): MN Legal Advice Online (“M.L.A.O.”) | MNLegalAdvice.org
• List of MN Orgs (LSSS): Directory of Pro Bono Legal Organizations in Minnesota | ProJusticeMN.org

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