Search Results for "MA-Massachusetts/town/capecod/Tisbury"

Is A JP Right For You? Five Reasons To Say YES

So you are ready to select your wedding officiant and you are wondering if you should forgo the pomp and circumstance of a religious ceremony and choose a Justice of the Peace instead. But how do you know for sure if a JP wedding is right for you? To help you decide, take a look at the five most common reasons couples choose a JP as their wedding officiant. You want simple and quick. Finding a JP who can preside over a simple wedding at your town hall or local park for a modest fee is easy. If you wake up one morning with a […]

MA Legislation Poll

Exciting news! Massachusetts Senator Anne Gobi is taking the lead and resubmitting the Resolve to Evaluate the One-Day Solemnizer Rule. This is a hard-fought-for piece of legislation based on the white paper that JPus submitted to Governor Baker. Senator Julian Cyr sponsored the bill during the 2019-2020 session, and Senator Gobi graciously agreed to take over the helm. Answer the Poll – MA JPs only Previously, Senator Gobi sponsored other legislation on behalf of the state’s JPs. She needs to see support from membership to know if she should continue these efforts. Support means, in addition to responding to this […]

Become a Justice of the Peace in Connecticut

  The good news about becoming a JP in Connecticut is that there are no special requirements, no exams to take or fees to pay. Many people become a JP because they want to perform marriage ceremonies. They join the Justice of the Peace Association to receive professional development, network with other JPs, and get their profile listed on findaJP.com, where couples go to find their perfect officiant. How the Process Works People to Talk To  If you Belong to a Political Party If You are Unaffiliated The Process The state of Connecticut regulates the activities of JPs and determines how many […]

JP for a Day

In support of JPs, JPus opposed JP for a Day. The bill died in committee. In March 2018 a bill came before the Connecticut General Assembly’s (CGA) Judicial Committee to create a JP for a Day. JPus mobilized our membership and engaged with the Connecticut Town Clerk Association. As a result of our advocacy both submitted testimony opposing this legislation (SB-396). In addition to testifying before the Judiciary Committee on March 9, 2018, JPus submitted written testimony. We were successful, and the bill died in committee. Read all about the behind-the-scenes activity here. Related Links See all of JPus’ efforts to address the problems […]

Cape Cod and the Islands

Surrounded by water, Cape Cod and the Islands provide the perfect spot for a memorable wedding ceremony. Ideal for a destination wedding, a quiet elopement or something in between. The bayside has calm waters that contrast with the lively ocean marinas and resorts. Leave the mainland, and ferry across to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket. Prestigious locales abound. Jack Kerouac was married by a JP in his Hyannis home. Of course, numerous Kennedy weddings happen here, too. The area boasts many high end, luxurious venues. There are lovely and affordable spots, as well. Unsure what is the right place for you? […]

New Britain Herald: 10/25/2008

Justices Welcome Same-Sex Marriages Saturday, October 25, 2008 By: Jennifer Sprague DURHAM – Justices of the peace from throughout the state weighed in on the issue of same-sex marriage Saturday at their annual conference, held at Durham Town Hall. Although town clerks were told by the state’s Department of Public Health that Tuesday is the official release date of the court’s gay-marriage decision, Ben Klein, attorney for the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, said Oct. 10 same-sex couples will not be able to wed until mid-November. Regardless of the effective date, town clerks have not been told when the […]

New Haven Register: 9/25/2005

Officials brace for rush of same-sex unions Associated Press. Published 12:00 am EDT, Sunday, September 25, 2005 MIDDLETOWN — As a new law allowing same-sex civil unions takes effect next week, justices of the peace, clergy and town clerks are entering uncharted waters. “On Oct. 1, civil unions become law in Connecticut, but there is not a JP in that room who knows what to do with it,” said Saul Haffner, president of Justices of the Peace of Connecticut, which held a conference Saturday to answer questions about civil unions. “It’s going to be a mess.” Connecticut is the first state to pass […]

JP Appointments Bill in Jeopardy

Contact YOUR STATE SENATOR and REPRESENTATIVE ask them to Vote YES on SB1140 Inclusive of Section 3 Working Group Please take a few minutes to email your Senator and Representative and ask them to vote YES on SB1140 inclusive of Section 3, creating a JP Working Group Look up your State Representative and Senator Call or send your State Representative and Senator an email asking them to support SB1140 – Inclusive of Section 3. See talking points and sample e-mail language below. The details are important. Current Situation On May 16, 2023,  a new amendment was submitted in the Senate that guts the part […]

Justices of the Peace Needed: 8/12/2019

August 12, 2019 South Burlington, VT. New opportunity for civic-minded, people-oriented Vermonters to get involved. The Justice of the Peace Association and the Vermont Municipal Clerks’ and Treasurers’ Association (VMCTA) are teaming up to engage residents to become justices of the peace.  JPs, as they are informally called, are entrusted to help with elections, hear tax appeals and officiate weddings. How to become a Justice of the Peace? Candidates for JP’s are solicited by the political parties in their town during their bi-annual caucuses in July (next one is in 2020) and those names are placed on the ballot in […]

Justices of the Peace Needed

August 12, 2019 South Burlington, VT.  New opportunity for civic-minded, people-oriented Vermonters to get involved. The Justice of the Peace Association and the Vermont Municipal Clerks’ and Treasurers’ Association (VMCTA) are teaming up to engage residents to become justices of the peace.  JPs, as they are informally called, are entrusted to help with elections, hear tax appeals and officiate weddings. How to become a Justice of the Peace? Candidates for JP’s are solicited by the political parties in their town during their bi-annual caucuses in July (next one is in 2020) and those names are placed on the ballot in […]

JP Appointments

      It is frustrating that the same political maneuvering that led to our research on Connecticut’s appointment process is what ultimately killed the bill to raise the qualifications of marriage officiants in Connecticut. Nonetheless, we’re making progress. We had tons of participation on our Zoom Q&A presentation in March. Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas was persuaded by our white paper, and she proposed the initial legislation to create a working group to evaluate JP Appointments in Connecticut. Now an ally, we are working together along with some legislators to reintroduce a bill in 2024. 2024 Legislation We are working with the Secretary […]

Stamford Advocate: 3/6/2020

When the Stamford Advocate ran a story about the Census Bureau’s announcement that the marriage rate in Connecticut is the lowest in the country, JPus managing member Loretta Jay supposed a reason for the decline. To the Editor: The recent story, Marriage rates in Connecticut lowest in US (Feb 25, 2020) makes me wonder. Is this a reflection of society’s willingness to treat the legal act of marrying so flippantly? Online officiants became a thing in 2001, after Joey on Friends got ordained to officiate Monica and Chandler’s wedding. Oddly, they became a trend. Even though Joey’s performance was filled […]

Press Release: 1/13/2019

Temporary marriage officiants – Judiciary hearing on Wednesday FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 13, 2019, Fairfield, CT. The New Hampshire House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee is holding a public hearing on Wednesday to temporarily authorize anyone to solemnize a marriage in the state. New Hampshire has the benefit of learning from its neighbors to the south. Massachusetts has a lay-officiant rule that has caused significant problems. Beyond belittling professional JPs, it has doubled the workload for municipal clerks and created chaos for couples whose marriages were invalid. The Justice of the Peace Association submitted a white paper to MA Governor Charlie […]