Planned maintenance: JP Online and the JP Public Register will be unavailable from 6.00pm Friday 24 March 2023 until 5.00pm Sunday 26 March 2023. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Important Information – 2023 NSW State Election and caretaker conventions – Justice of the Peace Appointments
The NSW State election will be held on Saturday, 25 March 2023. The NSW Government will enter a caretaker mode from 3 March 2023.
The Government avoids making appointments during the caretaker period. Therefore, no new Justice of the Peace (JP) appointments will be made during this time.
In order to process any outstanding appointments, the Department of Communities and Justice will be putting a temporary hold on processing new JP applications from 28 January 2023 until the end of the caretaker period.
If you have already started a JP application
You must submit your application as soon as possible. As of the 28 January 2023, no JP applications will be forwarded to MPs for nomination. Your application will remain on hold until after the caretaker period.
Can I still register for a JP Online account after 28 January 2023?
Yes, you can still create a JP Online account, attempt and pass the JP Knowledge Test and submit your application, however your application will not be processed until after the caretaker period.
Existing JPs applying for reappointment
Appointed JPs will still be able to submit their JP Reappointment application and be reappointed during the caretaker period.
As circumstances in NSW continue to change a number of JPs and JP scheduled desk locations may not be operating or may operate under changed hours. Please contact the JP or service desk location first before attending to ensure they are providing services.
The Department currently recommends the use of Audio Visual Link to perform JP services remotely where possible. Please click on the factsheet Witnessing legal documents remotely – Justices of the Peace factsheet.
Official information about Coronavirus (COVID-19) from the NSW Government can be found here.
Justice of the Peace Handbook 2022
The new Justice of the Peace (JP) Handbook is now available!
The revised JP Handbook details new processes such as enabling legal documents to be witnessed remotely via audio visual technology and changes to acceptable forms of identity to include Digital Driver License, plus additional information to improve accessibility for people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
You can download a free copy of the complete handbook or download it in sections from The Role of JPs page.
You can purchase a printed copy of the new JP Handbook through your JP Online account.
We would recommend JPs to take the time to read the new handbook, before they perform their functions as a JP.
Justices of the Peace (JPs) are volunteers appointed by the Governor of New South Wales. The primary role of a JP is to witness a person making a statutory declaration or affidavit, and to certify copies of original documents. JPs come from all sections of the community and are available across NSW.