Manitoba Legal Hotline — Free Legal Information

Need legal help in Manitoba right now?

The Legal Hotline is live in Manitoba, and this page is built to help you right now. Call our free line and tell our AI legal assistant what's happening — an impaired-driving arrest in Winnipeg, an eviction notice in Brandon, a custody dispute, a child-protection visit — and get clear legal information on how Manitoba and Canadian law work and what your options are. Ask as many questions as you like. That's legal information, not legal advice on your specific case, and using the service won't create a lawyer-client relationship. A paid consultation with a lawyer licensed in Manitoba is coming soon. If you've been arrested today, say as little as possible to police, ask to speak to a lawyer, and contact Legal Aid Manitoba at 1-800-261-2960.

Choose your area of law in Manitoba

Criminal Law →

Charged with an offence in Manitoba? Most criminal charges begin in the Provincial Court of Manitoba. The Criminal Code is federal law, so your rights are the same in Winnipeg or Thompson — learn them before you talk to anyone.

Impaired Driving →

Manitoba calls it impaired driving or 'over 80', not DUI. The criminal limit is 80 mg of alcohol per 100 mL of blood, but a roadside 'warn' reading in the 0.05–0.079 range alone can suspend your licence on the spot. Understand it before your court date.

Family Law →

Divorce runs under the federal Divorce Act; property, support, and parenting fall under Manitoba law. Most family matters are heard by the Court of King's Bench (Family Division), a unified family court — the Provincial Court can't grant a divorce.

Immigration Law →

Immigration is federal. Get clear information on permanent residence, work and study permits, refugee claims, detention, and removal under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act — wherever you are in Manitoba.

Employment Law →

Manitoba's Employment Standards Code sets minimum rights, but common-law notice on termination can be far larger. Wrongful dismissal, unpaid wages, and human-rights complaints all have remedies — find out where you stand before you sign anything.

Civil Law →

Most civil claims in Manitoba carry a two-year limitation period under The Limitations Act, and the deadline can pass before you realise it. Small Claims handles disputes up to $20,000; larger claims go to the Court of King's Bench.

How it works

Call the Legal Hotline free, day or night — no form, no income test, no waiting for business hours. The AI legal assistant answers live when you call.

Tell our AI legal assistant what's happening. It's trained on Manitoba and Canadian law and gives you clear legal information about your situation — ask as many questions as you like. That's legal information, not legal advice on your specific case.

Want a lawyer? A paid consultation with one licensed in Manitoba is coming soon — for now, the line gives you free legal information any hour.

The law in Manitoba

Manitoba's court system has three levels, and knowing which court hears your problem is the first hurdle. The Provincial Court of Manitoba is the busiest court and the only one with purely original jurisdiction — it hears its cases for the first time and no appeals. Most criminal charges in the province begin here, and it handles youth criminal matters, bail, and many first appearances; in some northern and rural communities it also hears certain family matters. The Court of King's Bench of Manitoba is the superior trial court, and it is split into two divisions. The General Division hears civil trials, the more serious (indictable) criminal cases, probate, and reviews of some tribunal decisions; the Family Division is a unified family court that hears family matters across the province, including divorce, the division of family property, adoption, and child protection — applications the Provincial Court generally cannot deal with.

Above the trial courts sits the Court of Appeal of Manitoba, the province's highest court, which hears criminal, civil, and family appeals as well as appeals from various boards and tribunals, normally sitting in panels of three judges. Beyond Manitoba, the Supreme Court of Canada is the final court of appeal for the entire country, though it hears only a small number of cases, usually with leave. The Court of King's Bench also runs the Small Claims practice, which decides money disputes up to $20,000 (the limit rose from $15,000 on 1 January 2025) through a faster, simpler procedure than a full civil trial.

The substantive law is split between two levels of government, and this division matters. Criminal law — including impaired driving, assault, and theft — is federal, set out in the Criminal Code and applied the same way across every province and territory. Divorce is also federal, under the Divorce Act. But a great deal of the law that shapes daily life is provincial: Manitoba's family-property and support legislation, The Residential Tenancies Act (renting), The Employment Standards Code (work), The Highway Traffic Act (licensing and roadside suspensions), and The Limitations Act, which sets the deadlines for suing. Whatever your issue, the Legal Hotline will be able to explain in plain English how this system applies to you — that's legal information, not legal advice — and connect you with a Manitoba-licensed lawyer if you need one.

Court Structure

Provincial Court of Manitoba — most criminal charges, youth, bail & first appearances
Court of King's Bench (General Division) — civil trials & serious criminal matters
Court of King's Bench (Family Division) — unified family court: divorce, property, adoption, child protection
Small Claims (King's Bench practice) — money disputes up to $20,000
Court of Appeal of Manitoba — the province's highest court
Supreme Court of Canada — final appeal for the whole country

Key Laws

Criminal Code of Canada (federal — impaired driving, assault, theft)
Divorce Act (federal — divorce, parenting after divorce)
The Family Property Act & The Family Maintenance Act (Manitoba)
The Residential Tenancies Act (renting & evictions)
The Highway Traffic Act (licensing & roadside suspensions)
The Limitations Act (two-year basic deadline to sue)

Key Bodies

Law Society of Manitoba (regulates lawyers)
Legal Aid Manitoba (legalaid.mb.ca)
Residential Tenancies Branch (evictions & rental disputes)
Manitoba Public Insurance (driver licensing & suspensions)

In Manitoba, a Roadside Breath Test Can Suspend Your Licence Before Any Conviction

Most people assume you're only in trouble if you blow over the criminal limit of 80 mg of alcohol per 100 mL of blood. Not in Manitoba. If a roadside reading puts you in the 'warn' range — a blood-alcohol concentration between 0.05 and 0.079 — police can immediately impose a Tiered Administrative Licence Suspension under The Highway Traffic Act, even with no criminal charge and no day in court. For a first occurrence that's a 3-day suspension (7 days if a passenger under 16 is in the vehicle), rising to 15 days for a second within 10 years, 30 days for a third, and 60 days for a fourth or more, often with an administrative penalty and a 3-day vehicle impoundment. If your reading is 0.08 or over, you fail the screening device, or you refuse to provide a sample, you face a three-month Administrative Licence Suspension. These penalties — administered by Manitoba Public Insurance — are separate from, and on top of, any criminal prosecution under the Criminal Code. What you say and do at the roadside matters enormously. Call the Legal Hotline in Manitoba for free information on how impaired-driving law works here — a paid lawyer consultation is coming soon.

Free & low-cost legal help in Manitoba

Manitoba has a network of free and low-cost legal help, but most of it runs on business hours and income tests. These organizations are genuinely useful for criminal charges and civil problems like child protection, family matters, and housing — just know they can be slow and eligibility-gated. The Legal Hotline is designed to be different: instant, free legal information with no income test. We're not live in Manitoba yet, but these are real, currently available Manitoba resources worth knowing right now.

Legal Aid Manitoba

The province's publicly funded legal-aid program, offering help to financially eligible low-income Manitobans in criminal, family, immigration/refugee, child-protection, residential-tenancies, mental-health, and government-benefits matters. Call 204-985-8500 or toll-free 1-800-261-2960. People on income assistance generally qualify without a financial contribution; others are assessed against income and asset guidelines.

Community Legal Education Association (CLEA) — Law Phone-In & Lawyer Referral

A Manitoba non-profit offering free legal information to the public. Its Law Phone-In and Lawyer Referral Program gives brief, general legal information over the phone and can refer you to a lawyer in your area of law. A strong first stop when you have a question but aren't sure where to start.

Legal Help Centre of Winnipeg

A free, volunteer-based clinic (a partnership including the University of Manitoba and University of Winnipeg) that helps low-income Manitobans with everyday legal problems — completing court forms, understanding documents, and getting summary legal information across many areas of law.

Law Society of Manitoba

The regulator of Manitoba lawyers. Its public resources help you check that a lawyer is licensed and in good standing and point you toward finding legal help — useful for confirming who is qualified to represent you before you hire anyone.

Pro Bono Students Canada / University of Manitoba Faculty of Law clinics

Law-student clinics, supervised by lawyers, that provide free assistance with certain legal matters for people who can't afford a lawyer. Coverage and intake vary by term and project — check current availability — but they can be a valuable free option for eligible Manitobans.

Legal Hotline covers all of Manitoba

Wherever you are in Manitoba, the line is free and answered 24/7 — including:

WinnipegBrandonSteinbachThompsonPortage la PrairieWinklerSelkirkDauphinMordenThe Pas

Frequently asked questions — Manitoba

Is there a free legal hotline in Manitoba I can call right now?

Yes. The Legal Hotline is live in Manitoba — call our free line and an AI legal assistant gives you clear legal information on Manitoba and Canadian law any hour, with no income test, and you can ask as many questions as you like. That's legal information, not legal advice. Other real Manitoba resources can also help: Legal Aid Manitoba (204-985-8500 or toll-free 1-800-261-2960) assists financially eligible low-income people with criminal, family, and other matters; the Community Legal Education Association's Law Phone-In offers free general legal information; and the Legal Help Centre of Winnipeg helps with forms and documents. A paid consultation with a Manitoba-licensed lawyer is coming soon.

I was just arrested in Manitoba. What should I do tonight?

Stay calm, identify yourself if required, and say as little as possible beyond that — then clearly tell police you want to speak to a lawyer and stop talking. Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms you have the right to retain and instruct counsel without delay and the right to remain silent, and police must give you a reasonable chance to call a lawyer. Legal Aid Manitoba can help financially eligible people facing criminal charges — call 204-985-8500 or toll-free 1-800-261-2960. The Legal Hotline is live in Manitoba — call our free line and we'll explain how Manitoba criminal process — bail, first appearance in the Provincial Court, disclosure — works. A paid consultation with a criminal defence lawyer is coming soon.

What's the difference between impaired driving and 'over 80' in Manitoba?

They're related criminal offences under the federal Criminal Code, and Manitoba uses 'impaired driving' or 'over 80', not 'DUI'. 'Impaired' means your ability to drive was affected by alcohol or drugs, proven by how you drove and behaved. 'Over 80' means your blood-alcohol concentration was at or above 80 mg of alcohol per 100 mL of blood (0.08). Separately, Manitoba's Highway Traffic Act imposes immediate roadside Tiered Administrative Licence Suspensions in the 0.05–0.079 'warn' range, and a three-month suspension at 0.08 or over or for refusing a test — penalties administered by Manitoba Public Insurance that apply before any conviction. Call the Legal Hotline in Manitoba for free information on how this works — a paid lawyer consultation is coming soon if you want to fight the charge.

I got an eviction notice in Manitoba — how much time do I have?

In Manitoba, most residential tenancy disputes — including evictions — are dealt with by the Residential Tenancies Branch, not a court. A landlord must serve proper written notice for the specific reason (such as unpaid rent), and there are required notice periods and processes before you can be lawfully removed. Don't ignore the papers and don't move out just because you got a notice. The Legal Hotline is live in Manitoba — call our free line for legal information on how the process works. Legal Aid Manitoba may also help with residential-tenancies matters if you qualify, and the Community Legal Education Association and Legal Help Centre of Winnipeg can explain the process and help you respond on time.

A child-protection worker (CFS) is investigating my family in Manitoba. Can I get help?

Yes, and you should get advice early. In Manitoba, child-protection cases are brought by a Child and Family Services agency and heard in the Court of King's Bench (Family Division) on tight timelines, with early hearings that shape what follows. You generally have the right to a lawyer, and Legal Aid Manitoba may provide one if you qualify financially — call 204-985-8500 or toll-free 1-800-261-2960. The Legal Hotline is live in Manitoba — call our free line for clear legal information about how the child-protection process works and your rights as a parent — that's information, not advice on your specific case. A paid consultation with a family-law lawyer is coming soon if you want representation.

How long do I have to sue someone in Manitoba?

For most civil claims, Manitoba's Limitations Act (in force since 30 September 2022) sets a basic limitation period of two years from the day you discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) the claim — not necessarily the day the event happened. There is also an ultimate limitation period of 15 years from the act or omission, regardless of discovery. Some claims have different rules, and missing the deadline usually means you lose the right to sue entirely, so timing is critical. The Court of King's Bench Small Claims practice handles money disputes up to $20,000; larger claims go to the Court of King's Bench. Call the Legal Hotline in Manitoba for free information on how limitation periods apply to your situation — a paid lawyer consultation is coming soon.

How much can I sue for in Manitoba Small Claims?

The Court of King's Bench of Manitoba runs a Small Claims practice for money disputes up to $20,000 — a limit that rose from $15,000 on 1 January 2025. Small Claims uses a faster, simpler procedure than a full civil trial and is designed so people can often handle a claim without a lawyer. If your claim is for more than $20,000, it proceeds as a regular civil action in the Court of King's Bench. Call the Legal Hotline in Manitoba for free information on which path fits your dispute and what the deadlines are — that's legal information, not advice on your specific case.

How is the Legal Hotline different from a lawyer or legal aid?

We're built to be a fast first step, not a law firm. The Legal Hotline is live in Manitoba — call our free line and our AI legal assistant gives you general legal information about Manitoba and Canadian law instantly, with no income test, and you can ask as many questions as you like. But it does not give legal advice on your specific case, is not a substitute for a licensed lawyer, is not legal aid, and using it won't create a lawyer-client relationship. Legal Aid Manitoba and community clinics offer free help but screen by income and operate mostly in business hours. If you decide you want a lawyer, a separate paid service — booking a consultation with someone licensed in Manitoba — is coming soon. You'll get answers fast now, plus a clear path to representation once paid consultations launch.

How do I get a lawyer in Manitoba if I can't afford one?

Start with the free and low-cost options. For criminal charges, Legal Aid Manitoba (204-985-8500 or toll-free 1-800-261-2960) may provide a lawyer if you qualify financially; tell the court at your first appearance that you're seeking legal aid. For general questions, the Community Legal Education Association's Law Phone-In and Lawyer Referral Program offers free information and referrals, and the Legal Help Centre of Winnipeg helps with court forms and documents. You can confirm a lawyer is licensed through the Law Society of Manitoba. The Legal Hotline is live in Manitoba too — call our free line for instant legal information with no income test.

Does the Criminal Code apply the same way across Canada?

Yes. Criminal law in Canada is federal, so the Criminal Code applies the same way in Manitoba as it does in every other province and territory — the offences and maximum penalties for things like impaired driving, assault, and theft don't change when you cross a provincial border. What does vary is how cases are administered locally: which court hears them, local police and Crown practices, and provincial penalties layered on top, such as Manitoba's Highway Traffic Act roadside licence suspensions for impaired driving. The Legal Hotline is live in Manitoba and is trained on both the federal Criminal Code and Manitoba's provincial laws, so the information you get reflects how things actually work where you are.

Can the Legal Hotline help me with an immigration or refugee matter in Manitoba?

Immigration and refugee law is federal, governed by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and decided by bodies like Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Immigration and Refugee Board — so the core rules are the same across Canada. The Legal Hotline is live in Manitoba — call our free line for clear legal information on permanent residence, work and study permits, refugee claims, detention, and removal — that's information, not legal advice on your case. Legal Aid Manitoba also provides immigration and refugee help to those who qualify (204-985-8500 or toll-free 1-800-261-2960). If you want representation, a paid consultation with a lawyer licensed in Manitoba is coming soon.

Manitoba Lawyers: Join Our Network Ahead of Paid Consultations

Are you licensed in Manitoba and ready for new clients? Our free legal-information line is already live across Canada, and we're building our Manitoba network of lawyers ahead of launching paid consultations — connecting people in Winnipeg, Brandon, Steinbach, Thompson, and beyond with counsel. Register your interest now to receive matched referrals in your practice areas when paid consultations go live — criminal, family, immigration, employment, civil, and more.

For Lawyers →

Last updated: 10 June 2026. Reviewed by the Legal Hotline Editorial Team.

General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy against current Canadian federal and provincial law. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at [email protected].

Free Legal Information for Manitoba.