The Justice of the Peace Association is celebrating 20 years with our first virtual conference. This event will bring together keynote speakers, presentations and workshops in an informative and engaging format. We’re striving for a creative environment where civil officiants can re-imagine weddings, learn new skills, and nurture relationships with others through networking opportunities. Tickets Get your conference tickets here and take advantage of our early-bird pricing. This conference is for professional marriage officiants and Town Clerks. Early-bird registration is open until February 15th at 5:00 pm. At that time full-price registration and ticket sales will open until March 12, 2021 at […]
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Gender Neutral Terms
All of the New England states that JPus is active in use gender-neutral terms on marriage licenses. However, this wasn’t always the case. The History We were pleased to learn that in 2019 Maine started using gender-neutral terms when referring to marriage or familial relationships. This prompted JPus to conduct a quick survey of the other states that we serve, asking what terminology was used. Vermont and New Hampshire allow couples to check a box indicating bride/groom/spouse, and only the term checked is on the license. Massachusetts uses gender neutral terms: Party A and Party B. At the time, Connecticut’s […]
CT’s JP for a Day: What Happened
This is a blow-by-blow account of how the Justice of the Peace Association responded to proposed legislation in Connecticut, SB-396, JP for a Day, as reported by managing member, Loretta Jay. SB-396 JP for a Day It was late on Friday, March 2nd, when Barbara Jay received an email from Betsy Moukawsher, Groton, Connecticut’s Town Clerk, warning that a bill was introduced to the current legislative session. SB-396 said very simply that the Secretary of the State could appoint justices of the peace “to perform a single joining of persons in marriage”. The bill, coined JP for a Day, was […]
NH House Testimony – 2024
The Justice of the Peace Association submitted written testimony, co-signed by 35 state justices of the peace, to the NH House in support of New Hampshire’s 2024 bill to end child marriage. This is a long-standing effort to hopefully end this human rights abuse taking place in the state. Related Links Follow our efforts to end child marriage in New Hampshire – since 2019! Information about our advocacy and partnerships for officiants about child and forced marriage. Education and training for officiants about child and forced marriage JPus has been on the forefront of legislative activity to end child marriage in other states Follow […]
CT Clerk Conference
Attention CT JPs! 9/13/2018 – JPus will have an information table at the Connecticut Town Clerk Association Conference. The conference will be held at Water’s Edge Resort, Westbrook, CT on September 13, 2018. Please join JPus to meet and greet the state’s town clerks and help explain the wonderful services that our JPs provide.
Are You Vaccinated?
Whoa! Careful here. We don’t want to be rude, but… Asking Wedding Guests COVID Questions Since the coronavirus pandemic made its unwelcome appearance in our lives last year, we are in new territory. Now, we need to think about who will attend the big day in a whole new way. Beyond budgets, valuing guest safety also influences who is invited. More importantly, let’s give consideration to how they are invited. This means thinking about all guests. Loved ones with certain medical conditions may be at higher risk of contracting the virus, even if they are vaccinated. In contrast, attendees who […]
CT JP Appointments ~ Q&A
We’ve heard the complaints from JPs and Town Clerks about Connecticut’s JP appointment process and the lack of JP qualifications. As a result, last year the Justice of the Peace Association took action and performed extensive research. And then, last month we released our white paper with our findings. On Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 6PM, join me for a Zoom presentation and Q&A. We’ll talk about what we learned, what was done and what is next. This is an interactive session for JPs and Town Clerks. Q&A, March 30th at 6:00 PM The March 30, 2023 Q&A event has […]
Discussion About Video Officiants
This event has ended. Please visit our Event Page for Upcoming Activities. Stay-home orders have made audio-video marriages a thing. Meaning, the couple in one location and the officiant in another. So far, none of the states that JPus is active in has taken this route. But the governors of New York, New Jersey and Colorado have, and now video (Zoom, Skype, Facetime, etc) officiants are allowed in those states. To evaluate the pros and cons, we invited JPus members to talk together during a Zoom call on May 19, 2020. Video Officiants: Why they Trouble Us With video marriages […]
NH Special Officiant Bill Died
A Long-Shot It was a long-shot, but we did it! The fight over the New Hampshire Special Marriage Officiant bill is over. Thank you to all the New Hampshire JPs who didn’t give up. Together, our emails, phone calls, signatures and testimony made a difference. Ultimately, the bill got stuck in conference and died. Read more to get a better understanding of what happened.
MA Bill Improves Compensation – 2019
Regulating Fees During the spring 2019 legislative session, Massachusetts Senator Sal DiDomenico submitted a bill, S1833, to increase the fees that justices of the peace are allowed to charge to officiate a wedding – from $100 to $120 for in-town ceremonies, and $150 to $180 for out-of-town. As far as we know, the Commonwealth is the only state that restricts fees this way. Related Links JPus’ white paper about 1-Day solemnizers speaks to the implications of regulating JP’s fees S 1831 establishes a commission study to evaluate the One-Day rule Other JPus advocacy JPus Statement of Support JPus is not in […]
Ending Child Marriage – NH 2020
JPus submitted written testimony to the New Hampshire Child and Family Law Committee supporting HB1516. See the additional links, below, for related activity to end child marriage in NH and other states. Related Links See the original text of the bill, HB 1516. Read more about the history of child marriage in New Hampshire, and JPus’ work in the state. Information about our advocacy, partnerships and training for officiants about child and forced marriage.
Ending Child Marriage – NH 2019
JPus submitted written testimony to the New Hampshire Child and Family Law Committee supporting HB378. The bill, had it passed, would have ended child marriage in the state. Instead it got blocked with amendments. See the additional links, below, for related activity to end child marriage in NH and other states. Related Links Read more about the history of child marriage in New Hampshire, and JPus’ work in the state. See JPus’ written testimony in 2020 to end child marriage in NH JPus’ advocacy efforts to end child marriage in NH and other states can be found here.
Testimony to NH House Ways & Means: HB 295
Ways and Means Committee On March 6, 2019, Loretta Jay, of the Justice of the Peace Association, testified before the New Hampshire House Ways and Means Committee opposing HB 295. The bill would establish a special marriage officiant license, allowing temporary officiants. Focus on Revenue The Ways and Means Committee’s focus is on raising revenue, so JPus’ testimony emphasized how this bill, if implemented, would create unintended fiscal losses to both the state and municipalities. More information about HB 295 and JPus’ response to special officiants. Written Testimony Many thanks to the New Hampshire JPs who mobilized quickly and endorsed […]