New JP site fills a need in Caboolture
A new Justices of the Peace signing site at the Caboolture library fills a niche timeslot with a JP in attendance until 6pm on Thursday nights.
The Caboolture library site opened in late November to complement the service provided by JPs at the local courthouse.
The JPs in the Community site at the library is open from 4-6pm Thursdays and 10-12 noon on Saturdays, and could expand its hours as more people utilise the service.
The Caboolture library JPs, whose services are free, are among 3000 JPs state-wide who contribute 100,000 hours of volunteering to the Queensland public.
“JPs provide an important service to members of the general public in regards to legal documentation and there is a high level of responsibility attached to the role,” Justices of the Peace Branch manager Damien Mealey said.
“We now have more than 200 community sites around the State and they are proving particularly popular for local residents seeking assistance.
“The community sites are deliberately easily accessible and cater for people seeking to have documents signed such as Statutory Declarations, Affidavits, Enduring Powers of Attorney, Land Title Transfers, Wills and other documents that community members need to have witnessed on a regular basis.”
A team of local residents volunteer their time at the JPs in the Community signing site including Ann Morris, Gudrun Parker, Robin Kelly, Colleen Webber, Judith Palmer, Tony de Kort, and Isobel Kirby.
“Being situated just off the Caboolture Town square, the site is easy to find and there is the added benefit of photocopiers and printing services being on hand in the library if required,” JP community engagement officer Rae Plush said.
“The Moreton Bay Regional Council, through its Caboolture Library, have been generous in their support of the JPs in the Community Program by providing space and promotion for the site.”
Community members interested in becoming a Justice of the Peace or Commissioner for Declarations should see the ‘How to Become a JP’ section at www.qld.gov.au/jps
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