The wellbeing of Justices of the Peace (JP), Commissioners for Declarations (Cdecs) and the community using their services is our priority during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We recommend you follow these steps when meeting with a JP or Cdec to help support your safety and theirs while accessing the service.
You can also stay up to date with the current health and safety information from Queensland Health.
Before you meet with a JP or Cdec
Do not meet with a JP or Cdec if you:
- feel unwell
- are in self-quarantine or isolation.
Be aware that JPs and Cdecs cannot use video conferencing, email or telephone to witness documents.
If you believe your document urgently requires witnessing, contact the requesting agency or organisation to see if they can accept an alternative arrangement.
When you meet with a JP or Cdec
The following steps will support the health and safety of both you and the JP or Cdec.
To reduce the risk remember to:
- Take your own pen.
- Consider meeting outside in the open air, but remember that only 2 persons can gather outdoors.
- Clean your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand rub/sanitiser before and after providing documents for witnessing.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing and sneezing or use your elbow, not your hands.
- Do not shake hands or use other physical greetings.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Try to maintain a distance of 1.5m from the JP or Cdec while they are reviewing your document(s).
- Try to limit contamination of documents by using hand sanitiser before and after handling documents, as much as possible.
If meeting inside is unavoidable, clean and disinfect the surface and equipment (before and after witnessing).
Remember that only up to 2 visitors who are not ordinarily members of the person’s household are allowed at a residence.