What does a Justice of the Peace do?
What does a Justice of Peace in the ACT do?
ACT Justices of the Peace deal with administrative matters such as:
- administering oaths or affirmations and witnessing statutory declarations and affidavits
- witnessing signatures; and
- attesting and certifying documents.
A JP can help you if you need a document certified as a true copy or wish to make a statutory declaration or witness a signature. A JP can witness most official documents such as an affidavit, Power of Attorney, Enduring Power of Attorney, a will, declarations that the client is still alive or other documents that authorise a Justice of the Peace to provide a service.
Read more in our brief on What does a JP do?
What does a Justice of Peace in the ACT not do?
A Justice of the Peace DOES NOT preside in the courts in a judicial role in.
A Justice of the Peace DOES NOT have authority to act as a marriage celebrant, unless specifically licensed to do so.
A Justice of the Peace DOES NOT provide legal advice.
A Justice of the Peace DOES NOT charge for services and cannot accept payment, reward or any form of compensation or gift for providing a service as a Justice of the Peace.
Want to know more?
See also Frequently Asked Questions
If you would like to know more about the role of Justices of the Peace in the ACT, see the Justices of the Peace (Role) Guideline 2016 (Disallowable instrument D12016-53 under ACT legislation).
You can read a little more of the story of Justices of the Peace here – A short history of Justices of the Peace
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