A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Singer, Assemblymen Sean Kean and David Rible bill that would allow filing of birth certificates to be delayed for religious reasons for up to 15 days after birth in order to allow for the naming of the child, was signed this morning into law by Governor Christie.
According to New Jersey State law, after childbirth, a parent has up to five days to name a child and submit the birth certificate. This becomes problematic when a boy is born, and parents wait until the Bris to give the child’s name.
Under this bill, an accommodation will be given for religious purposes, and allow up to 15 days to submit the birth certificate.
“We thank Senator Singer assembly members Kean, Rible and Pinkin for their sponsorship of the bill and to the Governor for signing it into law, to provide religious accommodations for parents filing their birth certificate,” Agudah New Jersey’s Director Rabbi Avi Schnall said. “Their sensitivity to the needs of the community is evident in this bill, as it has been throughout their career.”
This is good news! We had a story with our son that since we were pressured to give in a name for the birth certificate we gave in the name but a few days later by the Bris we changed our minds…(I’m sure I’m not the only one) …. it was endless and unnecessary paperwork and $ to file for a change of name, then I had to go in front of a judge to explain. The whole thing was a 6 month ordeal.
Thank you!
Ok. So you had MONTHS to decide on a name. Then baby comes.”Gee what should we name him”.
Cano never judge @Kate D
What if the bris is medically delayed, do you then submit the proposed name before actually naming the baby?
Kate D, how about my neighbor who the grandfather was nifteres night B4 the bris… don’t be an oiber chucham
Niftar (autofill)
@KateD
I know it is hard to understand but many people do not know the gender of the child before it is born and would prefer not to discuss the name until the baby is born.
It is one of those cultural things that are hard to explain.