Settling In
Marriage, Name Changes, and Basic Wills in PEI
Getting married in PEI doesn't legally change your name, and PEI rewrote its power of attorney law in late 2025. Here is the actual paperwork for a marriage licence, a real name change, and getting a will in place.
1. Getting a Marriage Licence
You need a PEI marriage licence before any ceremony can take place. Book an appointment at Access PEI Summerside, Alberton, O'Leary, Souris, Tignish, Wellington, or Royalty Crossing, or at Vital Statistics in Montague (call 1-833-734-1873 to book).
- Cost: $100, valid for 3 months from issue
- Both people must attend, with matching government-issued ID
- Your marriage officiant must already be registered with Vital Statistics
- You need two adult witnesses (18+) at the ceremony itself
- Licences are issued on the spot; there's no processing wait once approved
2. Taking Your Spouse's Name Doesn't Require a Legal Name Change
This surprises a lot of newly married couples: adopting your spouse's surname after marriage doesn't require filing a formal legal name change. Your marriage certificate itself is sufficient documentation to update your driver's licence, health card, and other ID. A formal legal Change of Name through Vital Statistics is only needed if you want your birth certificate itself changed.
3. Vital Statistics Fee Reference
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Marriage licence | $100 |
| Marriage certificate | $35 |
| Change of Name (first person in family) | $100 |
| Change of Name (each additional family member) | $100 |
| Change of Name certificate | $35 |
4. PEI Rewrote Its Power of Attorney Law in Late 2025
As of November 1, 2025, the Powers of Attorney and Personal Directives Act replaced PEI's older legislation entirely. It introduces two distinct documents:
| Document | Covers | Appointed Person Called |
|---|---|---|
| Power of Attorney | Financial matters | "Attorney" |
| Personal Directive | Personal, non-financial matters (new under this Act) | "Agent" |
An enduring power of attorney specifically remains valid even if you later become mentally incapable, avoiding the need for court intervention to manage your finances. Attorneys and Agents now face more explicit legal duties, including acting in good faith and, where requested, providing an accounting of their actions.
5. Wills and Probate
A will names who inherits your assets and can nominate a guardian for minor children; without one, provincial default rules decide instead, which rarely matches what people would have actually chosen. After death, a will typically goes through probate, handled by the Estates Section of PEI's Supreme Court, which validates the will and oversees the distribution of the estate. A power of attorney automatically terminates on death, so it cannot be used to manage an estate afterward; that's specifically what a will and, if needed, probate are for.
6. When to Get a Lawyer Involved
For anything beyond a very simple estate, especially blended families, property outside PEI, or significant assets, have a lawyer draft or review your will and power of attorney rather than using a generic template; the 2025 legislative changes specifically increased the technical requirements for these documents to remain valid.