Monday, December 31, 2018

How To Become 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.

To be a JP, it is not a requirement that you have a degree. If you do not have a degree, you must have law-related training. In case you have a degree in criminal justice, legal studies, American history or political science, you will be better placed for the job. For people without degrees, having law-related training is mandatory if they want to become JPs. Once the JP has been successfully appointed, the official is licensed or commissioned by the appropriate authority.

Therefore, unlike most local and statutory judges, JPs do not need to be degree holders in law. This training can however be beneficial and is mandatory in most states. There are thus no formal education requirements for people who want to become JPs. Nevertheless, those with formal education find an easy time looking for jobs.

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.

In other states like MA, the JP should be appointed or elected to office by the governor. Thus, the aspirants have to apply for the position for them to b appointed. There is an application form that should be filled. The form is obtained from the state secretary or governors office. The applicant thus has to go and request to be given the form.

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 candidate has been elected, the last step is filing an oath of office. In most cases, the JP appointee has to appear at a scheduled time and place to take the oath of office. In some states, the appointee can take and file an oath of office at the designated office within the specified days.




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