Find a Justice of the Peace (JP)

Introduction

Justices of the Peace (JPs) are volunteers that come from all sections of the community and are available across NSW. 

A JP is trusted to be honest and impartial when performing their functions.

What you need

• If using the online Public Register, check the availability of a JP before you contact them directly.
• Check that the JP is authorised to witness your documents.
• Let the JP know if you have a large number of documents to be witnessed.
• Get your documents ready before your appointment and do not sign your documents before the appointment.

How to find a Justice of the Peace (JP)

Search the online register

Use one or more of the following to search the Public Register :

• post code
• day of availability
• language spoken 
• name of JP
• JP registration number.

Go to a local community desk

Check the listing of scheduled JP services at a community desk near you.

Ask at local places

Ask if there is a JP at the following locations near you:

• local council or shire offices
• a police station or a court house
• the office of your local Member of Parliament
• your local shopping centre, library, chemist or bank.

What a JP can do

You can ask a JP to: 

• witness a statutory declaration or affidavit (only valid for use within Australia)
• certify a copy of an original document.

What a JP cannot do

A JP cannot:

• unreasonably refuse to provide JP services
• charge you a fee or accept a gift for providing JP services
• assist or write in a statutory declaration or affidavit
• provide you with legal advice
• store copies of legal documents.

English language interpreter services

For help with interpreting or translating documents into English, find out how to:

• get help in your language
• book an interpreter for spoken language
• book a Multicultural Youth Linker appointment (for young people from refugee, migrant and similar backgrounds).

If your are helping someone with English language interpretation, find out how to provide assistance with language interpretation for a statutory declaration (stat dec).

Payment

A JP cannot charge you a fee or accept a gift for providing JP services.