Understanding The Massachusetts Justice Of The Peace

By Nita McKinney


A person that is appointed as a Justice of the Peace shares similar attributes that a court appointed judge does, but their is limitations to the power they have compared to that of a judge. What a Justice of the Peace can and can't do varies by jurisdiction. The Massachusetts Justice of the Peace is dedicated to fulfill their obligations in a fair and professional way.

The organizations has built its foundations around ethics and values. They are not in business for profit and came to be in 1975. In the state, the main duties performed by Justice of the Peace has to do with marriage issues.

When two people want to tie the knot, they will naturally have to apply for a marriage license. To do this, both of them must present themselves at the town clerk's office and show proof that they are both 18 years old. It is possible to get married if under 18 but there are some extra steps to take that they will let a person know about.

If permission is granted, a couple can choose to get married anywhere in the state. Nobody will be able to get married without first getting this license. A Justice of the Peace is the only one who needs to be present in order for a marriage to be valid. It is thought by many people that witnesses have to be present, but this is not true at all.

Upon completion of the marriage, the officiant will fill out a section in the marriage license to verify that a legal marriage has taken place. It will then be returned to the place that the couple initially applied for it, and then the couple will be able to pick it up from there. It is always a good idea to ask how long it will be before the official marriage certificate is ready to be picked up.

An officiant can perform a marriage in any part of Massachusetts. There is no particular way that a ceremony has to be. No certain words have to be announced by the bride or groom. They must however say something that gives testimony of their marriage. The officiant must also pronounce that the two people are now man and wife.

When looking for a Justice of the Peace, it is important for a couple to find one who fits their style. This is because every single one will have their own particular style of the way they do things. Some are more flexible in providing what a couple wants than others. A search can begin by contacting the Secretary of State's Office.

When a Massachusetts Justice of the Peace is appointed, they serve for seven years. They're primary role is to serve in the city in which they reside in. It is set up so that for every 5000 residents there is, there will be one Justice of the Peace official. A humongous city would therefore have many.




About the Author: