Justice of the Peace
Newsletter
Last Gasp of Winter 2009
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In This
Issue:
JP Conference Reunites a Family |
As the economic climate has only worsened since our last newsletter, we're inviting you to weigh in on this issue. Please click here to share your observations on any of these questions (anonymously if you prefer).
- Are couples spending less on their weddings as a result of the economy? Or are they postponing marriage until they can have the wedding they wanted?
- Have you been asked to reduce your customary fee or done so on your own?
- Are couples "shopping around" for a wedding officiant more so than previously?
- Has income from officiating become more important to you as a result of the recession? Are you seeking more creative ways to attract couples?
Speaking of creative... Mary Pugh, Norwalk CT JP officiated at a group vow renewal/marriage ceremony on Valentine's Day for free. Three couples participated -- two already-marrieds and one brand new couple whose right to marry was also brand new. And what did you do on Valentine's Day? (Click on the question to respond.)
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Six Degrees of Separation... or the power of radio (and the JP Conference) Following the Norwalk CT conference in November, Elise Klein, New Canaan JP, was interviewed by WSHU's Naomi Starobin on the topic of her talk, Gay Marriage. This is what happened next. "I received an e-mail from someone with whom I had grown up but lost contact with," says Elise. "His mom and my mom were best friends. Ted wrote that he was driving on Long Island when he heard the NPR piece. Recognizing my name and my voice, he was so shocked that he pulled over to the side of the road. Apparently, he and his family had been looking for me for quite a while, and I had been looking for them, too." Elise was soon reunited with Ted, his parents and sister, "people who are family to me." Networking Websites We thank Jodi Paris Anastos, JP of Salem Mass, for starting a Justice of the Peace Association group on the networking website LinkedIn. She writes, "LinkedIn is a wonderful networking tool. I joined in late 2007, and have developed an excellent network of professionals. I created a group for our Association (it has the jpUS logo) as it can be an invaluable tool for JPs throughout New England and the U.S. to network, share ideas and referrals. I invite all JPs to sign onto LinkedIn.com and join the Justice of Peace Assocation group. It's free." Help! The online world is threatening to undo me. I joined Facebook and LinkedIn... but invitations proliferate, from MySpace, Tagged, Twitter. How many communities can one person join and still have a life? How do you choose? How do you get any work done? What am I missing? Please advise! Barbara Jay, Editor YET MORE NEW COLORS FOR JP SATIN STOLES  Our officiant stoles
are so popular with JPs that we have added two new colors.
See
all monogram styles and colors on the jpUS.org website.
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NEWS FROM THE STATES
Higher Fees for Mass JPs
A new Massachusetts law increases the amount that
justices of the peace can charge couples for marrying
them.Previously the maximum fee to marry a couple in the JP’s hometown was $75; for an out-of-town marriage, $125 (to cover travel). The new law increases those fees to $100 and $150. Interestingly, NH specifies fees that JPs can charge to administer oaths ($10) and depositions (from $5 to $50), but not for marriage or civil union ceremonies. Stats from the First Year of NH Civil Unions. Total number of civil unions performed: 611 (86 on the first day, Jan. 1, 2008). Number of CU Licenses by County: Belknap 26, Carroll 16, Cheshire 32, Coos 7, Grafton 46, Hillsborough 181, Merrimack 100, Rockingham 133, Strafford 55, Sullivan 15. (Statistics are from Nashua Telegraph article by Karen Lovett that quotes JP Association members Steven Dembow and Roberta Wilkins.) Officiant for a Day in Vermont Since July 1, any adult can apply to the Vermont Secretary of State to be a "temporary officiant" for a specific wedding or civil union. Get the application here (pdf). VT joins MA in permitting a family member or friend who is not a regular officiant to legally unite a couple. NH permits out-of-state legal officiants (including JPs from other states) to officiate in NH. More information about JPs in the various states is on the jpUS.org website. Bill Will "Merge" CT Civil Unions into Marriage Couples who have been joined by civil union in Connecticut "shall be deemed to be married" by the State unless their union is dissolved before October 1, 2010 -- if a bill now before the Legislature becomes law. The bill also codifies the October 2008 ruling of the CT Supreme Court, granting the right to marry to same sex couples and recognition of same sex couples married in other jurisdictions. The bill will effectively end civil unions in the State, which are still an option for gay couples today as is marriage. Will Texas JPs Need to be Lawyers? Bills before the TX Senate and House would require JPs of large constituencies to be licensed to practice law. The Senate bill would affect JPs in counties with more than 200,000 residents while the House bill would only impact JPs in counties with populations of 1 million. The great majority of TX JPs are not attorneys and there is stiff opposition to both bills. Stay tuned for the outcome. |
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If you are a JP but not featured on findaJP.com, join the Justice of the Peace Association LLC www.jpUS.org |
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