Prince Edward Island Legal Hotline — Free Legal Information

Need legal help in Prince Edward Island right now?

The Legal Hotline is live for Prince Edward Island — call our free line any time and tell our AI legal assistant what's happening — an impaired-driving arrest in Charlottetown, an eviction in Summerside, a custody dispute, a child-protection visit — and get clear legal information on how PEI 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 Prince Edward Island is coming soon. If you've been arrested today, say as little as possible to police, ask to speak to a lawyer, and contact PEI Legal Aid as soon as you can.

Choose your area of law in Prince Edward Island

Criminal Law →

Charged with an offence on PEI? Most criminal charges are dealt with in the Provincial Court of Prince Edward Island. The Criminal Code is federal law, so your rights are the same in Charlottetown or Summerside — learn them before you talk to anyone.

Impaired Driving →

PEI 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 reading can cost you your licence under the Highway Traffic Act before any conviction. Understand it before your court date.

Family Law →

Divorce runs under the federal Divorce Act; property, support, and parenting can fall under PEI's Family Law Act and Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. Family cases are heard in the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island.

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 on the Island.

Employment Law →

PEI's Employment Standards Act 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 ordinary civil claims on PEI carry a six-year limitation period under the Statute of Limitations — longer than in many provinces, but personal-injury claims are often just two years. The Small Claims Section of the Supreme Court handles disputes up to $16,000.

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 PEI and Canadian law and gives you clear legal information about your situation — not legal advice on your specific case. Ask as many questions as you like.

Want a lawyer? A paid consultation with one licensed in Prince Edward Island is coming soon — a separate service we're building now.

The law in Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is Canada's smallest province, and its court system is correspondingly compact — but knowing which court hears your problem is still the first hurdle. There are two trial courts. The Provincial Court of Prince Edward Island is staffed by provincially appointed judges and sits in Charlottetown, Summerside, and Georgetown; it handles most criminal charges in the province, including bail and the early stages of serious cases, along with youth criminal matters and offences under provincial legislation. The Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island is the higher trial court — a superior court of inherent jurisdiction — and it hears serious (indictable) criminal trials, larger civil claims, estate and probate matters, and all family-law cases, including divorce and the division of family property. It also contains the Small Claims Section, which handles civil disputes up to $16,000 through a simpler, less formal process.

Above the trial courts sits the Court of Appeal of Prince Edward Island, the province's highest court, which hears appeals from the Supreme Court, the Provincial Court, and various administrative tribunals. Beyond PEI, 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. A point worth knowing: not every legal problem ends up in a courtroom. Many everyday disputes — residential tenancy issues, for example — are first decided by the province's tribunals and director's offices rather than a judge, so an islander fighting an eviction and a driver fighting an impaired-driving charge are in entirely different parts of the system.

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 on PEI is provincial: the Family Law Act (property and support), the Employment Standards Act (work), the Highway Traffic Act (licensing and roadside suspensions), the Rental of Residential Property Act (renting), and the Statute of Limitations, 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 PEI-licensed lawyer if you need one.

Court Structure

Provincial Court of PEI — most criminal charges, bail, youth & provincial offences (Charlottetown, Summerside, Georgetown)
Supreme Court of PEI — serious criminal trials, larger civil claims, estates, divorce & family
Small Claims Section (Supreme Court) — civil disputes up to $16,000
Court of Appeal of PEI — 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)
PEI Family Law Act (property & support)
Rental of Residential Property Act (renting & evictions)
Employment Standards Act (minimum work rights)
Statute of Limitations, c. S-7 (general six-year deadline to sue)

Key Bodies

Law Society of Prince Edward Island (regulates lawyers)
PEI Legal Aid (criminal, youth, family & civil)
Community Legal Information / CLI (free legal information & referral)
Director of Residential Rental Property (tenancy disputes)

On PEI, a Roadside Breath Test Can Cost You Your Licence Before Any Conviction

Most people assume you're only in trouble if you're convicted of impaired driving in court. Not on Prince Edward Island. The province's Highway Traffic Act lets police suspend your licence at the roadside, separately from any Criminal Code prosecution. On PEI a roadside reading of 0.05 or higher triggers both an immediate 24-hour roadside suspension AND a 90-day administrative driver's licence suspension under the Highway Traffic Act that begins seven days later — all before you ever see a judge. A reading of 0.08 or higher, or a refusal, adds a charge under the federal Criminal Code on top. These administrative penalties are layered over, not instead of, any criminal prosecution, and the grounds to appeal them are narrow. What you say and do at the roadside matters enormously. Call the Legal Hotline free for clear information on how impaired-driving law works here — a paid lawyer consultation is coming soon if you need one.

Free & low-cost legal help in Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is small, and its free legal help is delivered through two distinct organizations that are easy to confuse — one that represents eligible people in court, and one that gives free information to anyone. Both run mostly on business hours and, for representation, income tests. The Legal Hotline is designed to be different: instant, free legal information with no income test. We're not live on PEI yet, but these are real, currently available Island resources worth knowing right now.

PEI Legal Aid

The province's publicly funded legal-aid program, delivered by a small staff of government lawyers with offices in Charlottetown and Summerside (private-bar lawyers take referrals where there's a conflict or more than one lawyer is needed). It represents financially eligible low-income islanders in serious criminal, youth criminal justice, and family and civil matters. Eligibility is based on income and the type of legal problem — contact the Charlottetown or Summerside office to apply.

Community Legal Information (CLI)

A separate non-profit that provides free legal information — not representation — to everyone on PEI through its phone line, website, email, and publications. CLI does not decide cases or act as your lawyer, but it explains how the law and the courts work in plain language and runs a lawyer referral service to connect islanders with a lawyer for advice. A strong first stop if you can't afford a lawyer.

Lawyer Referral Service (via CLI)

Community Legal Information operates a referral service that connects islanders who need legal advice with a PEI lawyer, often for an initial consultation. It's a practical way to get in front of a lawyer when you're not sure where to start and your matter falls outside what legal aid covers.

Law Society of Prince Edward Island

The regulator of lawyers on PEI. Its public-facing directory lets you confirm that a lawyer is licensed and in good standing and helps you find practising lawyers in the province — useful when you're ready to hire counsel and want to check who you're dealing with.

Family Law Information Centre (FLIC)

A PEI service that provides information and resources for people going through separation, divorce, custody, and support issues, including help understanding the family-court process and the forms involved. It offers information and guidance rather than legal representation, but can make a daunting process easier to navigate.

Legal Hotline covers all of Prince Edward Island

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

CharlottetownSummersideStratfordCornwallMontagueKensingtonSourisGeorgetownAlbertonTignish

Frequently asked questions — Prince Edward Island

Is there a free legal hotline on Prince Edward Island I can call right now?

Yes. The Legal Hotline is live on Prince Edward Island — call our free line any hour and an AI legal assistant gives you clear legal information, not legal advice, with no income test and as many questions as you like. Other Island resources can also help: PEI Legal Aid represents financially eligible low-income people in criminal, youth, and family/civil matters through its Charlottetown and Summerside offices, and Community Legal Information (CLI) provides free legal information to anyone and runs a lawyer referral service. A paid consultation with a PEI-licensed lawyer through the Legal Hotline is coming soon.

I was just arrested on PEI. 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. PEI Legal Aid may be able to assist if you qualify financially; contact its Charlottetown or Summerside office as soon as you can. You can also call the Legal Hotline free for clear information on how the Island's criminal process — bail, first appearance in Provincial Court, disclosure — works; a paid criminal-defence lawyer consultation is coming soon.

What's the difference between impaired driving and 'over 80' on PEI?

They're related criminal offences under the federal Criminal Code, and PEI 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) regardless of how you appeared. Separately, PEI's Highway Traffic Act imposes immediate roadside suspensions — a reading of 0.05 or higher triggers a 24-hour roadside suspension plus a 90-day administrative licence suspension that starts seven days later — all before any conviction. Call the Legal Hotline free for clear information on how this works; a paid lawyer consultation is coming soon if you want to fight the charge.

How long do I have to sue someone on Prince Edward Island?

It depends on the type of claim, and PEI is different from many provinces. Under the Statute of Limitations (R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. S-7), the general limitation period for ordinary civil claims such as debt and contract is six years — longer than the two-year default in provinces like Ontario or Alberta. But important categories are shorter: personal-injury claims, including those from a motor vehicle accident, generally carry a two-year limit. Some claims (such as certain sexual-assault claims) have no limitation period at all. Missing a deadline usually means losing the right to sue entirely, so timing is critical. Call the Legal Hotline free for clear information on how limitation periods apply to your situation; a paid lawyer consultation is coming soon if you need one.

How much can I claim in Small Claims on PEI?

The Small Claims Section of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island handles civil disputes where the debt or damages claimed do not exceed $16,000. The province doubled this limit from $8,000 in 2017. Small claims is designed to be more accessible and less formal than a full action in the General Section of the Supreme Court, and you don't need a lawyer to use it — though for larger or more complex disputes, legal help can make a real difference. Call the Legal Hotline free and we'll explain how the small-claims process works; a paid consultation with a PEI lawyer is coming soon if your matter needs one.

I got an eviction notice on PEI — what should I do?

On Prince Edward Island, most residential tenancy disputes — including evictions — are dealt with under the Rental of Residential Property Act through the province's residential rental system, not by going straight to a courtroom. A landlord generally must serve proper written notice and follow the process before you can be lawfully evicted, so don't ignore the papers and don't assume you have to move out the moment you receive a notice. Deadlines and the type of notice depend on the reason. Call the Legal Hotline free for clear information on the tenancy process; Community Legal Information (CLI) can also explain it, and PEI Legal Aid may be able to help with related civil matters if you qualify.

A child-protection worker is investigating my family on PEI. Can I get help?

Yes, and you should get advice early. On Prince Edward Island, child-protection matters are brought by the province's Child Protection services and dealt with through the courts on tight timelines, with early hearings that shape what follows. You generally have the right to a lawyer, and PEI Legal Aid may provide one if you qualify financially in family and child-protection matters. You can also call the Legal Hotline free 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 — and a paid family-law lawyer consultation is coming soon if you want representation.

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. Our AI legal assistant gives you general legal information about Prince Edward Island and Canadian law instantly when you call — but it does not give legal advice on your specific case, is not a substitute for a licensed lawyer, and using it won't create a lawyer-client relationship. PEI Legal Aid offers free representation but screens by income, and Community Legal Information gives free information but not representation; both run mostly in business hours. A separate paid service — booking a consultation with a lawyer licensed in Prince Edward Island — is coming soon. You'll get answers fast now, with a clear path to representation as we build it out.

How do I get a lawyer on PEI if I can't afford one?

Start with the free and low-cost options. For serious criminal, youth, or family and civil matters, PEI Legal Aid (offices in Charlottetown and Summerside) may represent you if you qualify financially — tell the court at your first appearance that you're seeking legal aid. For information and a referral, Community Legal Information (CLI) explains how the law works and can connect you with a PEI lawyer through its referral service. You can confirm a lawyer is licensed through the Law Society of Prince Edward Island. The Legal Hotline adds instant, free legal information with no income test — just call our free line.

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 on Prince Edward Island 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 (on PEI, most start in the Provincial Court), local police and Crown practices, and provincial penalties layered on top, such as PEI's Highway Traffic Act licence suspensions for impaired driving. The Legal Hotline is trained on both the federal Criminal Code and PEI's provincial laws, so the information you get when you call reflects how things actually work where you are.

Can the Legal Hotline help me with an immigration or refugee matter on PEI?

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, including on Prince Edward Island. Call the Legal Hotline free 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. PEI Legal Aid may also assist eligible people with immigration and refugee matters, and Community Legal Information can point you to resources. A paid consultation with a lawyer licensed in Prince Edward Island is coming soon if you want representation.

PEI Lawyers: Join Our Referral Network

Are you licensed in Prince Edward Island and ready for new clients? Our free legal-information line is live across Canada, and we're building a network of PEI lawyers ahead of launching paid consultations — connecting people in Charlottetown, Summerside, Stratford, and across the Island. Register your interest now to receive matched referrals in your practice areas when our paid-consultation service goes 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 Prince Edward Island.