Free Legal Information for Yukon.

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

Yes — the Legal Hotline is live. Call our free line any hour and our AI legal assistant will give you clear legal information — not legal advice — about Yukon and Canadian law, with no income test and no limit on how many questions you can ask. Other real Yukon resources can also help. The Yukon Legal Services Society (Legal Aid) assists people who qualify financially with criminal, family, child-protection, and poverty-law matters — call (867) 667-5210 or toll-free 1-800-661-0408 ext. 5210. Its Neighbourhood Law Centre helps with everyday civil problems, and the Yukon Public Legal Education Association publishes free plain-language guides. A paid consultation with a Yukon-licensed lawyer is coming soon if you want one.

I was just arrested in Yukon. 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. The Yukon Legal Services Society can help people who have been arrested or detained — (867) 667-5210 or toll-free 1-800-661-0408. The Legal Hotline is live too: call our free line any hour and we'll explain how Yukon criminal process — bail, first appearance, disclosure, and the Territorial Court — works. A paid consultation with a criminal defence lawyer is coming soon if you want one.

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

They're related criminal offences under the federal Criminal Code, and Yukon 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. Both are set out in section 320.14 of the Criminal Code. Separately, Yukon's Motor Vehicles Act imposes immediate roadside consequences — a 24-hour suspension where police believe you're impaired, and a 90-day suspension plus a 30-day vehicle impoundment at 0.08 or for refusing a test — penalties that apply before any conviction. Call the Legal Hotline now for free information on how this works — and a paid consultation with a lawyer is coming soon if you want to fight the charge.

How long do I have to sue someone in Yukon?

For most ordinary civil claims — like a simple contract debt or damage to property — Yukon's Limitation of Actions Act sets a general limitation period of six years from when the cause of action arose. This is longer than the two-year basic period used in several provinces, so don't assume the southern rules apply here. Some claims have different or shorter deadlines, and missing the limitation period usually means you lose the right to sue entirely, so timing is critical. Small Claims Court, part of the Territorial Court, handles disputes up to $25,000; larger claims go to the Supreme Court of Yukon. Call the Legal Hotline now for free information on how limitation periods apply to your situation — and a paid consultation with a lawyer is coming soon if you need one.

What is Small Claims Court in Yukon and what's the limit?

Small Claims Court in Yukon is a branch of the Territorial Court that handles civil disputes about money and property up to $25,000 — a limit in place since 2006. It's designed to be more accessible and less formal than the Supreme Court, so people can often represent themselves. If your claim is worth more than $25,000, you either give up the excess to stay in Small Claims Court or bring your case in the Supreme Court of Yukon instead. Some matters — such as disputes over land, wills, or defamation — fall outside Small Claims Court entirely. Call the Legal Hotline now for clear legal information on which court fits your dispute — and a paid consultation with a lawyer is coming soon if you want one.

How does court work in remote Yukon communities?

Much of Yukon is served by a circuit court. The Territorial Court sits permanently in Whitehorse, with registries also in Dawson City and Watson Lake, but judges, lawyers, and court staff travel to hear matters in many smaller communities — places like Old Crow, Mayo, Carmacks, Pelly Crossing, Ross River, and Haines Junction. That means court dates in your community may only come around periodically, so it's important not to ignore a summons or court paperwork. Several communities run Courtworker programs to help people through the process. With the Legal Hotline live, you can get legal information any hour without waiting for the next circuit sitting — and a paid consultation with a lawyer is coming soon if you need one.

A child-protection worker is investigating my family in Yukon. Can I get help?

Yes, and you should get advice early. In Yukon, child-protection matters are dealt with by the courts on tight timelines, with early hearings that shape what follows. You generally have the right to a lawyer, and the Yukon Legal Services Society provides legal aid in child-protection cases to people who qualify financially — call (867) 667-5210 or toll-free 1-800-661-0408. The Legal Hotline is live too: 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 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 Yukon 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. The Yukon Legal Services Society offers free or low-cost representation but screens by income and the type of problem, and operates mostly in business hours. If you decide you want a lawyer, a separate paid service — booking a consultation with someone licensed in Yukon — is coming soon. You'll get answers fast, with a clear path to representation once that paid service is available.

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 Yukon 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 territorial border. What does vary is how cases are administered locally: which court hears them, the reality of the circuit court in smaller communities, and territorial penalties layered on top, such as Yukon's Motor Vehicles Act roadside licence suspensions and vehicle impoundments for impaired driving. The Legal Hotline is trained on both the federal Criminal Code and Yukon's territorial 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 in Yukon?

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 in Yukon. Call the Legal Hotline 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. The Yukon Legal Services Society also provides immigration and refugee assistance to those who qualify. If you want representation, a paid consultation with a lawyer licensed in Yukon is coming soon.