We think of ourselves as the hub for civil marriage officiants. As such, we take our responsibility to support our members seriously. This includes providing the resources to support them during the coronavirus pandemic. Our priority is safety. That also includes making sure couples know that professional officiants are equipped with the knowledge needed to solemnize their marriage during these uncertain times. Similarly, we are partnering with our state government leaders to both share protocols and advocate for policies that meet all stakeholders’ needs. Resource Pages See JPus’ COVID-19 Resources for officiants. Resources to help couples navigate weddings during the […]

In 2022, the Justice of the Peace Association released a survey to support its research on the qualifications of civil officiants and the way they are appointed. One hundred seventy-eight people answered our survey. Minimum Qualifications Only five percent of survey respondents thought that marriage officiants should not have any minimum qualifications to perform a marriage ceremony. All others thought officiants should meet certain qualifications. 86% think officiants should take an oath of office. 79% want a criminal background check or other means to verify the officiant is of good character. 63% believe training is needed before becoming an officiant. […]

Updated July 13, 2020 When it comes to amateur officiants in New Hampshire, the Justice of the Peace Association fights diligently on behalf of our members.That is because logic and righteousness are on our side. We’ve done the research. We’ve explored alternatives. We’ve built allies. And we played by the rules. A Quick Summary In June 2019, the legislative session ended with an upset. The special marriage officiant bill died after the Senate President blocked it – based on the problems raised by JPus. While we were successful, we also knew that our work wasn’t done. The bill would be […]

the When legal or social issues affect our membership’s marriage-related duties, JPus gets involved. JPus represents membership, advocating on their behalf: Supporting legislation, engaging the media, training officiants Are there policies or legislation brewing in your community that affect justices of the peace? Let JPus know – we’re here to support you! At the Justice of the Peace Association, we work for the change we want to see. We are an inclusive organization that believes in the equality of all people. Our activities reflect our core values. Amateur Marriage Officiants Lay-officiants give professional JPs a bad name. This includes state-sanctioned […]

We are thrilled that Senator Anne Gobi is taking the lead and resubmitting the Resolve to Evaluate the One-Day Solemnizer Rule. In addition, she is also submitting two Bills that support JPs. Before doing this, she asked Massachusetts JPus members to weigh in. These are the poll results. 100% of the Massachusetts JPs who responded to our poll would like to have the fees they may charge increased.   93% of the JPs who responded to our poll would like the application fees for 1-Day Solemnizers increased.   Comments provided by survey respondents, edited for clarity & length Thank you […]