A Massachusetts Justice of the Peace is mostly busy solemnizing marriages. They do have other responsibilities and job functions which they may be called upon to fulfill occasionally. All these things are outlined below, in addition to the procedure followed for appointing JPs and the requirements for applying to become one.
A JP is appointed by the Governor, with the Executive Council's advice and consent, for a seven year term. They can only be appointed for the municipality which includes their own residence. However, JPs can perform marriages anywhere in the Commonwealth.
The law allows for one JP/5,000 residents within the municipal limit. Only those with a good moral standing can apply, and they are required to be active in issues involving the community. This has to be demonstrated by getting five signatures from prominent members in the community in support of the application. Applicants are also required to be familiar with all the laws and responsibilities associated with their designation as a JP.
Apart from solemnizing marriages, they may be required to administer oaths of office required by law and take acknowledgements similar to a notary public. They may also administer written interrogatories for taking depositions. The fees that can be charged by a JP for each of these non-marital functions are clearly defined under the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
As far as marriages are concerned, the maximum official fee a JP can ask for is $100. This is for wedding ceremonies within the same municipality as the JP. In case it is somewhere else within Massachusetts, they can ask for up to $150 to officiate over the marriage. This fee does not include charges for prenuptial counseling, rehearsals and other additional work they are asked to participate in or perform.
JPs are usually agreeable to making their own travel arrangements, if so required. The law makes no mention of specific words that have to be used for solemnizing a marriage. The couple has to state that they accept each other as spouses, and the JP must subsequently announce them to be married under the authority provided to the JP by the Commonwealth.
However, there may be some issues where a JP has to be careful. One such matter is regarding advertising, since they are not officially allowed to place ads in magazines or newspapers offering their services. Even so, it's not really that hard to find a JP in a specific region. The official database of records kept by the Sec. Of State can be searched online to locate a JP by city/town or region.
Another prickly issue for JPs is that the law forbids them from refusing to solemnize marriages, unless it is the law itself that stops the couple from getting married. Many couples also make the mistake of expecting the Massachusetts Justice of the Peace to provide the marriage license. This only works if the clerk at the city or town hall is also the JP. Even if this is true, there will be a mandatory three-day waiting period before the clerk can issue the marriage license.
A JP is appointed by the Governor, with the Executive Council's advice and consent, for a seven year term. They can only be appointed for the municipality which includes their own residence. However, JPs can perform marriages anywhere in the Commonwealth.
The law allows for one JP/5,000 residents within the municipal limit. Only those with a good moral standing can apply, and they are required to be active in issues involving the community. This has to be demonstrated by getting five signatures from prominent members in the community in support of the application. Applicants are also required to be familiar with all the laws and responsibilities associated with their designation as a JP.
Apart from solemnizing marriages, they may be required to administer oaths of office required by law and take acknowledgements similar to a notary public. They may also administer written interrogatories for taking depositions. The fees that can be charged by a JP for each of these non-marital functions are clearly defined under the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
As far as marriages are concerned, the maximum official fee a JP can ask for is $100. This is for wedding ceremonies within the same municipality as the JP. In case it is somewhere else within Massachusetts, they can ask for up to $150 to officiate over the marriage. This fee does not include charges for prenuptial counseling, rehearsals and other additional work they are asked to participate in or perform.
JPs are usually agreeable to making their own travel arrangements, if so required. The law makes no mention of specific words that have to be used for solemnizing a marriage. The couple has to state that they accept each other as spouses, and the JP must subsequently announce them to be married under the authority provided to the JP by the Commonwealth.
However, there may be some issues where a JP has to be careful. One such matter is regarding advertising, since they are not officially allowed to place ads in magazines or newspapers offering their services. Even so, it's not really that hard to find a JP in a specific region. The official database of records kept by the Sec. Of State can be searched online to locate a JP by city/town or region.
Another prickly issue for JPs is that the law forbids them from refusing to solemnize marriages, unless it is the law itself that stops the couple from getting married. Many couples also make the mistake of expecting the Massachusetts Justice of the Peace to provide the marriage license. This only works if the clerk at the city or town hall is also the JP. Even if this is true, there will be a mandatory three-day waiting period before the clerk can issue the marriage license.
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