How to Address a Justice of the Peace

—-Official envelope:
—-—-(Full Name), JP
—-—-(Address)

—-Social envelope:
—-—-Mr./Ms./etc. (Full Name)
—-—-(Address)

—-Letter salutation:
—-—-Dear Mr./Ms./etc. (Surname):

More Information:

A justice of the peace is an elected or appointed local official who can witness documents, perform marriages, and enforce local laws. The official is lower than a judge of a high court and is sometimes equivalent to a magistrate.

(1) Justices of the peace who are elected in a general election are likely addressed as The Honorable (Full Name), and identified as a Justice of the Peace on formal correspondence.  However, there are many varied local traditions.  You will need to check what is the preferred form of address for an elected local official: call their office and ask.

(2) Justices of the peace who use the post-nominal abbreviation JP, are not generally required to have a formal legal education in order to qualify for the official.

How to Address a Justice of the peace

See Related Anglican/Episcopal Posts:
   ––—Archbishop
—––—Bishop–
—––—Bishop, Presiding
—––—Dean
—––—Archdeacon
—––—Priest, Mother, Father
—––—Brother

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?

You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.)  The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them.
___What I don’t cover on this site are many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions, etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.

Not Finding Your Answer?

—-#1)  At right on desktops, at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones, is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.

—-#2)  If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.)  Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.

—-#3)  If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question  – but always change all the specifics.

— Robert Hickey 

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

Recommended Resources:  The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW) and Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA)    For more information see the Protocol Resources page.