How to find a JOP?

[nicole]

My Fh and I really want to be married by a Justice of the Peace, but I don't know how to go about finding one. We've tried a few websites, none of which have listings for our area. If you used a JOP, how did you find him/her?

Thanks in advance!

[JayJay]

We used a JOP, and we just went to the Judge's office in our local courthouse. It may be different where you're from, I don't know. I'm not sure everyone else's courthouses house the same offices as our small town one does.
Good Luck!

[Hello Kitty]

We found our JOP by going to the county office where we were going to be married (the place you eventually get your license) and they had a list there. Off of that, we just called a couple guys to get a feel for them and their availability and picked one.

I think he charged like $100-150? He didn't come to the rehearsal, but he did let me write the ceremony and he used that as his little schpiel. It was really wonderful.

FTR, I'm in IL, so it varies by region.

[Missy2U]

We went to the courthouse. You could also ask your county clerk - or check local wedding magazines. The only other thing I could think of is checking with the venues locally that are most often used for weddings/receptions - they may have some names for you as well.

[nicole]

Thank you all so much for responding. I took your advice and called our County Circuit Court Judicial Administration and City Hall, and was told there aren’t any JOPs in Missouri :eek: Apparently it's a civil cermony at the courthouse or a minister. On one hand I really can't believe this state would be so prejudice. On the other, why would I be told the same wrong info from 2 different sources.

[jimmysgirl424]

nicole I don't know how adventurous you and your FH are; but have you considered going outside of the box and having a close friend or family member marry you? DH and I did not want a church wedding; we had both the ceremony and reception at the same location. Anyway, we asked a very close friend of ours to marry us and when he agreed to do so; we had him ordained through the Universal Life Church; online. He filled out a very simple application and it was done just like that. People who are ordained through this organization are 100% legal to marry in all 50 states.

DH and I wrote our entire wedding ceremony and sent the text to our friend about 2-3 months before the wedding. He practiced (almost obsessively, I might add!:D ) and when our big day came; he was amazing. Our guest had no idea that he had never married anyone before and he performed our ceremony beautifully and professionally. Plus, it ended up meaning so much more to DH and I that someone that knew us and loved us both was able to marry us. I smile every time I look at our marriage license and see our friend's name there. :)

[nicole]

jimmysgirl424 - I was going to check into the Internet ordination thing (I was actually ordained in 2001), but I need to find out if it's legal here. This is what the Missouri statute says:

Marriages may be solemnized by any clergyman, either active or retired, who is in good standing with any church or synagogue in this state
That church is in California or Arizona or something, so I have to check and see if it would be recognized. Actually it says right on ULC's website that people are having trouble getting their status recognized in NY. (Another interesting point, at least to me, is that Chandler and Monica on Friends are actually not legally married.)

[tenofcups]

Can you have a judge perform the ceremony? PA doesn't have JOPs either, but I've been to several weddings officiated by judges in regular ceremony/reception sites (country clubs, mansions, etc.).

[nicole]

tenofcups - Nope, no civil servants are to perform marriages outside of official buildings. Is that prejudice or what?