Here is a summary of the steps required to access remote witnessing services from a Justice of the Peace. This information is based on the updated Legislation Oaths Act 1936 and the Justice of the Peace Handbook.

The remote witnessing service provided by the Royal Association of Justices of South Australia (RAJSA) is provided at no cost to the Community of South Australia. Honorary Justices do not charge for their time. This service is funded by the RAJSA, which is a registered charity, and we would like to expand this service.

The following documents can be witnessed remotely.

• South Australian statutory declarations
• South Australian affidavits

Current regulations do not include any other documents.

To book your remote session with a Justice of the Peace for South Australia, please click the button at the top of this page to go to an online booking calendar. You will receive a confirmation email containing a Zoom meeting link.

Remote witnessing requires appropriate technology and the capability to use that technology. 

The type of equipment needed to run a remote witnessing session is:

• A personal computer, a tablet device such as an iPad or tablet
• A scanner/printer to scan and email documents
• A camera and microphone attached to your computing device

Your device must have a microphone and camera. 

• Please make sure you have all paperwork ready prior to the session; all documents should be filled out beforehand but not signed.
• Please make sure that you have the necessary equipment to scan and send documents by email as needed, listed below for your information.
• Have everything ready before the video call starts, including ensuring the facility to blur the background and/or utilise virtual backgrounds are turned off as they will interfere with the identification and viewing process for this meeting.

Example of remote witnessing a Statutory Declaration

The following steps must occur on the same day:

Declarant (member of the general public who needs the document) prepares the statutory declaration prior to meeting the Justice of the Peace (JP) online. Once you are connected on the Zoom link, you:

• sign and date bottom of all pages, except the last page
• sign and date the final page
• say the declaration out loud as indicated by the JP
• sign and date each attachment
• Send the signed statutory declaration and attachments (if any) to the JP via email

The JP then:

• signs the statutory declaration and attachments (if any)
• writes a statement that the document was witnessed via audio-visual link for both the statutory declaration and for each attachment (if any)
• Emails the signed declaration and attachments (if any) back to you

The statutory declaration is now complete.

The RAJSA is a not-for-profit association providing training and Support for Justices of the Peace in South Australia.

If you would like to make a voluntary donation to support RAJSA’s ongoing training activities, your contribution would be welcomed and appreciated. Donations are entirely optional and are not required to receive this service.