A Justice of the Peace (JP) acts as an independent and objective witness to documents people use for official or legal purposes.
JPs are volunteers who provide their services to the community. While JPs make themselves available as much as possible, remember that they have the same work and personal commitments as any other person. As such, you will need to discuss a mutually acceptable time and place for an appointment.
What can a JP witness
A JP can:
- certify a true copy of an original document
- certify a person's identity
- witness an affidavit for use in court
- witness a statutory declaration
- witness the signing of a document
Have you checked whether a Commissioner for Declarations can sign your document? They are often easier to find.
Contacting a JP
- Contact the JP at a reasonable time. If a mobile number is listed, consider sending a text message before calling.
- Try to contact a JP who is close to where you would like to meet.
- If possible, provide a reasonable time to enable the JP to provide the service.
- Ask the JP where and when they are available to provide the service. Don’t assume the JP will come to your location.
- Tell the JP what the service(s) is that you require. Ensure the JP knows the amount and complexity of the service.
- A JP may not agree to provide the service.
Meeting the JP
- Have all the documents ready for the JP but do not sign them before meeting the JP.
- If you need copies of original documents signed, take the printed copies with you to the appointment. It is not the JP’s responsibility to arrange copies for you.
- Ensure you have personal identification documents with you.
- Be mindful that JPs do not provide legal advice.
- A JP cannot accept any payment or other benefit from providing the service.
Document witnessing centres (JP signing clinics)
You can visit one of the JP signing clinics listed below.
| Locality | Location | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Service Tasmania, 134 Macquarie Street | Thursday and Friday | 10am - 2pm |
| Glenorchy | Council Offices, 374 Main Road | Monday | 10am - 2pm |
| Rosny | Service Tasmania, Bligh Street | Tuesday | 9.30am - 4pm |
| Kingston | Civic Centre, 15 Channel Highway | Wednesday | 10am - 2pm |
| Launceston | CH Smith Building, 23 Charles Street | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | 10am - 3pm |
| Devonport | 24 Edward Street | Tuesday and Thursday | 10.30am - 12.30pm |
Or by searching our Find a JP database