Steps Of Becoming A Justice Of The Peace MA

By Jessica Brown


A JP is an official government professional that usually officiates marriages. He/she therefore performs marriages, signs affidavits and even hears the oaths that are made by the couple. Therefore, this is the role of this kind of officer. All the legal marriages should thus be conducted by this official. In some states, this official is appointed by the acting governor. There are several requirements that should be met by people that are aspiring to become JPs. The following are the steps that should be followed by people that wish to become Justice of The Peace MA officials.

You should understand that these officers are commissioned or elected to office by the political party that is governing. They are thus appointed by the governor of a particular state. The roles and responsibilities of a JP can thus vary greatly from one state to the other. For instance, some states do not have provisions for JPs. Instead, the roles of this official are redistributed to the other officials of the state.

A degree in law is not mandatory for any person aspiring to become a JP. However, some states require the aspirants to have alternative training in law-related subjects for them to qualify. The people that have obtained a degree in legal studies, American history, political science and criminal justice will however have better chances. Therefore, it is good to have some training for you to qualify and become a commissioned JP.

This job does not require educational training like most statutory judges. Hence, it is not a must that the JPs acquire a degree. Nevertheless, if you do not have a degree, it is advisable to obtain some related training for you to increase the chances of getting the job. Therefore, do not disregard the training.

Once you have been approved to apply for the post, you can go ahead and seek for election in the appropriate offices through the right procedure. These officials are appointed depending on the governing body. This means that the applicants have to be nominated or appointed by the main governing body. Therefore, it is wise to know the main procedures that are followed in your state.

There some states like Massachusetts that requires the governor to appoint their JP. Therefore, the candidate or the person that is aspiring to become a JP should apply for the position. This candidate should thus get an application form from the office of the governor or the secretary of the state.

This form mainly requires the general information of applicants. For instance, the applicants should provide their full legal names, place and date of birth, gender and address among other critical information. Also, the applicant should fill in his criminal record if any. Some states may require recommendations and signatures from respected people in the community.

Once the aspirant has been elected to office, there is another final step that he/she has to complete. This is filing for the oath to assume office. In some states, the JP elect can take the oath at a specific time in the designated office while some states require a formal filing within a few days.




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