The Problem Justice of the Peace Association members have long decried the problem of the lay officiant. In Massachusetts the One-Day Solemnizer causes particular distress. Problems include: The state treats lay and professional officiants differently and unfairly, to the detriment of JPs. Municipal town clerks complain that as many as 90% of One-Day Solemnizers made significant legal errors, doubling the amount of work they had to do. One-Day Solemnizers compromise the integrity of the marriage license and are “loose with the law”. Couples who use a One-Day Solemnizer may unwittingly jeopardize the validity of their marriage because important paperwork isn’t […]
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I Do. Again and Again!
Are you a bride or groom having to choose whether to move forward with your wedding plans? Have you had to postpone and reconfigure? If your answer is Yes, you’re not alone. Two Ceremonies Pandemic or not, couples have been celebrating their love and commitment more than once for a long time! In 1983, I got married in California. That is where I lived at the time. However, most of my family and friends were in New York. Want to know what we did? We married twice! Two ceremonies, one on each coast. Double the fun, double the gifts, double […]
The Meaning of Your Flower Selection
How do you choose the flowers for your wedding bouquet: color, season, childhood favorite? Did you know that the flowers in your bouquet may be sending a certain message? Flowers have been used to symbolize certain traits, feelings, and meaning throughout time, showing up in such things as plays, mythology, and poems. Learning to speak the language of flowers can add a whole new dimension to your ceremony. How did the tradition of carrying bouquets get started? In the 15th century, wedding bouquets were carried by brides to ward off evil spirits. They were not made of flowers, but instead, […]
Find JP by State
Justice of the Peace, Notaries, and Wedding Officiants Listing on findaJP.com for: ★ Connecticut ★ Florida ★ Maine ★ Massachusetts ★ New Hampshire ★ Vermont
Members-Only Zoom Happy Hour
This event has ended. Please visit our Event Page for Upcoming Activities. Networking for Officiants Let’s counter Social Distancing with some Social Connections Join us for light conversation, Q&A, and an opportunity to share your thoughts and experiences during this crisis with peers. Friday April 3rd, 2020, 6pm-7pm EST Meeting ID: 302-804-867 Password: 101299 Technical Support Zoom is a video conferencing tool. It allows groups to have live video conversations. If you are new to Zoom, follow these links for help: Zoom Download Zoom Tutorials Zoom Keyboard Shortcuts: Mute/Unmute Mic MAC: ⌘Cmd+Shift+A PC: Alt+A Video on/off MAC; ⌘Cmd+Shift+V PC: Alt+A […]
Six Degrees of Separation
2020 Spring & Summer Weddings Even with these challenging times, your wedding can still be intimate and memorable. With beautiful green lawns, and flowers exploding with color, spring and summer offer a wonderful wedding backdrop. Things to keep in mind… With many businesses and town halls closed to the public, be sure to check out our tips on navigating marriages during the pandemic. This will help expedite the process. Location, Location, Location If you’re thinking about a spring or summer wedding, one of the best venues can be your own home. It’s easy to control social distancing and other safety necessities. In […]
JPus Statement Responding to CT SB 396
THE ISSUE A new Bill was raised in Connecticut, An Act Concerning Justices of the Peace Who May Serve as Marriage Officiants (SB 396), which would allow anyone to be a JP for a Day in the state. The CGA’s Judiciary Committee heard testimony on March 9, 2018 and JPus was there. Our statement to the Judiciary Committee is below. JPus RESPONDS with a STATEMENT TO THE CGA JUDICIARY COMMITTEE Related Links See all of JPus’ efforts to address the problems of amateur officiants All the nitty-gritty details of JPus’ successful effort to block Connecticut’s JP-for-a-Day bill JPus represents membership and Advocates on issues that […]
NH Bill to End Child Marriage
On January 22, 2023, the Justice of the Peace Association submitted testimony to New Hampshire’s Children and Family Law Committee in support of HB34. The legislation would change the minimum age to marry in the state to 18 – no exceptions. Read JPus’ testimony. Related Links Information about our advocacy and partnerships for officiants about child and forced marriage. JPus has been on the forefront of legislative activity to end child marriage in other states Follow our state-by-state changes to marriage laws How membership voted to join the Coalition to End Child Marriage Education and training for officiants about child and forced marriage
Website Updates Coming Soon
In order to keep up with current technology and security measures, JPus is launching a new website version of findaJP.com and JPus.org. The primary purpose of this update is to improve the websites’ performance, speed, and security. It will also make it easier for administrators (Loretta and Atlantis) to manage all the different components. For this reason, changes to the general appearance will be minor. Stay tuned for an announcement of an official launch date in the near future. For now, read more about the upcoming updates below. Front-End Updates There will NOT be a full visual redesign of findaJP […]
Make Sure your Wedding Ceremony Fits Your Circumstances!
How times change! Not so long ago, the idea of living together before marriage was socially unacceptable. While some couples dared to try it, they dared not do so openly – for the judgment of society could be cruel. Gay couples also were in jeopardy of social condemnation. In 2014, however, living together before marriage is the rule — the “new normal.” And gay relationships too are becoming mainstream in the eyes of most Americans. Often the old words and assumptions underlying the “traditional” wedding ceremony don’t work anymore and need to be updated. The outdated Victorian notions of the “virgin” bride and groom – and […]
I Love Small Weddings
I’ve married people in all sorts of places – from town halls to “posh” venues. Yet so often the weddings that move me deeply are the small, unassuming affairs. They are the kinds of weddings that I think about again and again, over a cup of coffee the next morning or the next year. These lovely little weddings occur in the corner of someone’s living room in front of a china cabinet or in a back yard under a blossoming apple tree. The bride is always beautiful in a freshly ironed dress. The groom is always handsome in a freshly […]
Advertise with Us
Temporarily Closed findaJP.com is not currently accepting new advertisers. If you are a vendors (other than officiants) who provide products and services of interest to couples who are planning their wedding or other significant event and would like to know about future opportunities to purchase ad space on findaJP.com please write to us or call (203) 255-7703 with any questions. Attention Wedding Officiants JPs and other marriage officiants require a JPus Membership to be featured on findaJP.com. If you are a marriage officiant visit JPus.org to learn more about the benefits of a Justice of the Peace Association Membership. Become […]
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 […]
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