New Jersey Assembly Bill A2970

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/28/22
• Refer: 2/28/22

Caption

Eliminates phrase "born out of wedlock" from statues concerning legal settlement; revises law for determining a minor's county of legal settlement.

Impact

The proposed changes would align the settlement status of a minor with that of their parents regardless of the parents' marital status at the time of birth. It clarifies that a minor's county of legal settlement will follow the minor's parents, or if parents have different settlements, then according to the custodial arrangement. This shift is expected to better reflect the child's actual living situation and is designed to remove the potential stigma associated with being born out of wedlock.

Summary

Assembly Bill A2970 aims to amend existing legal language in New Jersey regarding the determination of a minor's county of legal settlement. The bill specifically proposes the removal of the phrase 'born out of wedlock' from statutes, which the sponsor, Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer, asserts is an outdated and pejorative term. The current law designates that a minor born out of wedlock is assigned the same legal settlement as his or her mother, a stipulation that the bill seeks to revise.

Contention

While the legislator advocates for this bill as a necessary modernization of legal terms, it has the potential to raise questions about the interpretation of child settlement laws within various county jurisdictions. Opponents may argue that the traditional measures provide clarity in custody disputes; however, the bill's proponents believe that the emphasis should be on actual living conditions rather than outdated marital classifications. Overall, these changes could set a precedent in how family law is approached in New Jersey.