The Justice of the Peace Association is strongly opposed to any marriage that involves minor children. The association’s membership is also opposed, stating that they would not perform such ceremonies. Connecticut is poised to ban child marriage in the state. We await the Governor’s signature on the bill that passed both the House and Senate. Legislative Activity 2023 State Representative Jillian Gilchrest introduced HB 6569, An Act Concerning the Minimum Age to Be Able to Marry, with bipartisan co-sponsors. JPus’ managing member Loretta Jay testified at the hearing before the Judiciary Committee on February 27, 2023. JPus submitted written testimony […]

In response to many complaints from Connecticut JPs and Town Clerks, in 2022 the Justice of the Peace Association researched how civil marriage officiants are appointed in the state. Given that, the following white paper summarizes our findings and legislative recommendations. Related Links On March 10, 2023, JPus testified to the Connecticut Planning and Development Committee. See JPus’s survey results about officiant qualifications and appointments. See how JPus is advocating to address the problems with amateur officiants Learn about the JP and notary role, state-by-state We advocate on other marriage-related issues

  On February 27, 2023, the Joint Committee on Judiciary heard testimony on HB6569, Connecticut’s bill to end child marriage. JPus’ managing member, Loretta Jay, gave oral testimony and submitted this written testimony in support of the legislation. Related Links Legislative activity in Connecticut to end child marriage Information and a link to view JPus’ panel discussion about child marriage in Connecticut. Landing page for JPus activity involving child marriage in all of our states. Follow our state-by-state changes to marriage laws Education and training for officiants about child and forced marriage How membership voted to join the Coalition to End […]

The Justice of the Peace Association was founded by Saul Haffner and Barbara Jay in 2001. It was the dawn of the Internet age. As a newly appointed Connecticut JP, Saul, a longtime marketer, saw the potential of the World Wide Web to connect couples and officiants in a personalized fashion. His wife, Barbara, was, conveniently, a Website developer. The Association started first in Connecticut and eventually expanded to other states where JPs and notaries perform marriages. Saul loved the connections he made with couples and his fellow wedding officiants. He was an early advocate of marriage equality and led […]

Make new connections and nurture opportunities! Mix and mingle with your fellow JPs and town clerks. We hope to see you at our Holiday Networking Event   **UPDATE: Event at Bertucci’s in Waltham, MA has been rescheduled. Stay-tuned for new date.**   Getting together with our colleagues creates new opportunities and connections – and it’s fun! JPs, town clerks and other stakeholders are all invited to attend. This will be a terrific opportunity to meet and connect with our fellow officiants, municipal and state leaders on a social level. Let’s build upon our shared interests and find new ones. Getting to know some of […]

Don’t be caught behind the times. Stay current on new laws that affect JPs and notaries. Connecticut Gender Neutral Terms on Marriage License Effective July 1, 2021, the terms Bride and Groom are no longer on Connecticut marriage licenses, replaced with Spouse 1 and Spouse 2. Read how JPus took action to make this validating change happen. Race Information Not Collected The marriage license application will no longer seek a couple’s race, effective July 1, 2021. Probate Judge Required for 16, 17 Year Olds to Marry Effective October 1, 2017, in addition to parental consent, anyone under the age of […]