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Justice of the peace

Community and Wellbeing

Justice of the Peace

Justice of the Peace

The Barossa Council offers a free Justice of the Peace (JP) service, proudly supported by volunteers appointed by the South Australian Attorney-General’s Department.

As this is a volunteer-run service, we can’t always guarantee a JP will be available on the day and it’s a drop-in service only, so there’s no need to make a booking.

Service times

Lyndoch Library

Saturday 10am - 11:30am

Nuriootpa Library

Friday 11am - 1pm

Saturday 10am - 12pm

If you can’t make it to one of these sessions, you can find a JP in your area using the Justice of the Peace search tool.

Helpful tips before you visit

To make sure your visit goes smoothly, please:

  • Arrive early there may be queues or wait times.
  • Allow enough time in case a JP isn’t immediately available.
  • Bring photo ID (driver’s licence, passport, student card, etc.) some documents require your identity to be verified.
  • Check your forms before you come to ensure you’ve got all the necessary documents (e.g. birth certificate, academic record, advanced care directive).
  • Don’t sign your documents beforehand, the JP must witness your signature in person.
  • Arrive at least 30 minutes before closing JPs may not be able to assist if you arrive right before the session ends.

FAQ's

You can search for a JP by name, suburb, or contact details using the Justice of the Peace search

Besides JPs, a Stat Dec can also be witnessed by government employees, accountants, ministers of religion, medical professionals, and bank officers (if they meet the criteria).

You can view the full list of authorised witnesses on the Attorney-General's Department website.

A JP acts as an independent witness for official or legal documents. They can:

  • Certify true copies of original documents
  • Certify a person’s identity
  • Witness affidavits and statutory declarations
  • Witness signatures on documents

Please note, JPs cannot provide legal advice.

No. Under the Justices of the Peace Regulations 2021, a JP must not provide legal advice.

If you need free legal information, contact the Legal Services Commission on 1300 366 424 (Monday to Friday, 9am–4:30pm).

It depends on what you need witnessed. So, check with the agency requesting your documents. Most services require photo ID, and some (like police checks) require a 100-point ID check.

Yes! Printing, photocopying, and scanning are available at our libraries. See our current fees and charges for cost to print.

Nuriootpa Justice of the Peace location

Nuriootpa JP Map

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