Search Results for "MA-Massachusetts/town/southeast/North%2520Easton"

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 […]

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 […]

Justice of the Peace embosser

Give your marriage documents an official seal, or use this embosser when taking an acknowledgement. This pocket seal is light-weight and versatile yet rugged, engineered to produce higher pressure with minimal effort. It is designed for travel. The 2″ die is personalized with your Name, Town and State around the circumference and  “Justice of the Peace” in the center.

Conference 2017

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE CONFERENCE Saturday March 25, 2017 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM (Continental Breakfast at 8:30 a.m.) Bristol City Hall 111 North Main Street Bristol, Connecticut Theme: “Finding Your Unique Voice as a JP” Special Guest: Peter Merry, renowned wedding guru   PRESENTATIONS  Finding Your Unique Voice as a JP by Peter Merry Promoting Your Unique Services by Peter Merry A Mock Wedding Ceremony: Ideas for Running a Rehearsal and a Wedding Ceremony, Shelley Schulman, officiant JP Panel Discussion: What Makes YOU Unique? moderated by Peter Merry BREAKOUT SESSIONS Ready, Set, Go! A Working Guide to a Successful Ceremony […]

A Winter Solstice Wedding Ceremony

Aren’t you smart to have chosen December for your wedding! Your celebration will match perfectly the festive mood of the holidays.  But could there be another reason why this time of year feels so right, one stirring deep in your DNA? Quite possibly! What is it about the month of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year for those who live north of the equator? In ancient times, our ancestors celebrated the solstice with a long night of revelry and feasting. Living closer to the rhythms of Nature, they understood that the solstice marked the beginning of lengthening […]

MA bill increases compensation

JPus supports Massachusetts Senator Sal DiDomenico’s bill to increase the fees that a JP may charge to officiate a wedding. Last week, on behalf of our MA members, JPus submitted a statement to the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight asking for a vote in favor. Read statement here.

JP Appointment Process White Paper

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

More Vermont towns available on FindaJP

Attention Vermont Justices of the Peace: We have added 8 more towns to our directory on findaJP.com. These towns are also available for Membership on JPus.org. Though we have always covered all of Vermont, we have added North Hero, South Hero, Grand Isle, Waitsfield, Jay, Chelsea, Pittsfield, and Stratton to further highlight these popular wedding destinations. In addition, our new Vermont pricing model recognizes the state’s rural aspects and lower population. This new structure will provide our JPus members with better control, and let you select the specific reach that works best for you. JPs: To see all Vermont towns […]

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 […]