JPus in the News

Union Leader: 7/17/2020

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The following op-ed was published in the New Hampshire Union Leader on July 17, 2020. It calls for Governor Sununu to issue an executive order to undo the temporary marriage officiant authorization. Loretta Jay: Amendment undermines marriages... literally ON THE second to last day of the session, the New Hampshire Senate tacked an unrelated amendment onto a guaranteed-to-pass bill. This move, done without notifying constituents, gives anyone temporary authorization to officiate a marriage. This will increase the risk of coronavirus spread. The House passed the bill the next day. New Hampshire needs Governor Sununu to step in and halt this irresponsible action. Unlike professional marriage officiants, lay officiants are careless; up to 90% make serious errors. New Hampshire is taking extraordinary measures to stay safe during the pandemic. It is counter-intuitive to compound the danger by suddenly loosening rules -- especially around high-risk group gatherings. States that have lay officiants ...

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Boston Globe: 4/27/2020

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‘Are we ready for a wedding?’ Couples wrangle with nuptials amid coronavirus By Danny McDonald, Globe Staff. Updated April 27, 2020, 12:00pm. MALDEN - By any standard, this does not look like a traditional wedding venue. A large, L-shaped couch dominates the space. An elaborate lighting fixture hangs down from the ceiling. The floor tiles are a utilitarian gray. And upon them are stacks of brown Amazon packages awaiting pickup. But in the age of COVID-19, the lobby of a modern apartment building is the new hotel ballroom. Many couples have scrambled to postpone their big day until everyone can gather again. But others are moving forward in the midst of the pandemic, albeit with drastically different ceremonies. That means this lobby had hosted five marriages since the start of the pandemic thanks to Barbara M. Kahn, a justice of the peace who lives at the residential complex. On Friday, ...

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Press Release: 4/6/2020

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Plan B Marriages April 6, 2020, Fairfield, CT. Despite the fear and uncertainty that comes with the coronavirus pandemic, justices of the peace are supporting loving couples who want – or need - to tie the knot. They are epitomizing what it means to be a professional officiant, providing expertise during the most challenging times. Governor Lamont signed an executive order making marriage license application procedures more flexible. In doing so, he permitted socially distanced nuptials, acknowledging that officiating a marriage can be an essential service. “While our communities are loaded with angst, love is prevailing. JPs are rising to the occasion and getting creative, meeting couples at a social distance, and officiating their marriages. It takes a little resourcefulness, and a lot of flexibility. But it is working.” says Loretta Jay, managing member of the Justice of the Peace Association. “Through our online resources, we emphasize safety, for the ...

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Burlington Free Press: 4/1/2020

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Coronavirus can't cancel love: How Vermonters are adjusting wedding plans due to COVID-19 Maleeha Syed, Burlington Free Press, April 1, 2020 Wedding bells are ringing. Just make sure they're disinfected. Couples are adjusting to the new normal of COVID-19, a disease related to the coronavirus that initially impacted people in China toward the end of last year. Travel restrictions and social distancing to mitigate the virus might have dampened some lovebirds' spirits — the ones who planned lavish ceremonies, ordered mass catering and booked venues months in advance. But others managed workarounds to wed their significant others. Burlington stopped issuing marriage licenses after Gov. Phil Scott issued the stay-home order and suspended non-essential services, according to Amy Bovee, assistant city clerk. Bovee said could be exceptions to the rule for an end-of-life or health insurance issue. "Certainly there's lots of sadness and tears," Loretta Jay with the Justice of the Peace Association said of the changes in light of COVID-19, but sadness isn't all there is underlying the altered ...

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Press Release: 3/27/2020

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Marriage License Rules Loosened in Connecticut March 27, 2020, Fairfield, CT. On Tuesday, when Connecticut's Governor Lamont signed an executive order loosening marriage license application procedures, he acknowledged that sometimes performing a marriage is an essential service. This made socially distanced weddings an official alternative. Sadly, the big reception must be postponed until life returns to normal, but for now at least, the wedding can go on. Thankfully, the state’s justices of the peace (JP) are at the ready to support couples who need an intimate ceremony now. Sometimes health insurance coverage or a military deployment make a marriage urgent. When necessary, having a trained, professional officiant available is critical. Supporting both the officiants and betrothed, the Fairfield-based Justice of the Peace Association (JPus) is providing much-needed guidance. Since the coronavirus pandemic changed everything, JPus developed resources so JPs are prepared. “Our hope is that by providing needed information, we ...

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