What's happening
This bill requires both parties in a New York annulment or divorce to remove religious barriers to remarriage within 90 days or face fines.
Why it matters
Directly addresses religious barriers. By requiring both parties to actively remove religious or conscientious obstacles (such as a religious divorce or "get" in Jewish law), the bill aims to prevent one spouse from blocking the other's ability to remarry within their faith tradition, which has historically been a tool of leverage or coercion in some divorces.
Creates significant financial consequences. With a $2,500 per week fine for noncompliance, the bill introduces strong financial pressure to ensure timely action, making it much harder for a party to delay or refuse to remove religious barriers without facing substantial penalties.
Applies broadly and expedites resolution. Unlike previous law, which only required action from one party (typically the petitioner), this amendment mandates that both spouses must comply within a fixed 90-day period, aiming for fairness and swift resolution for all parties involved.
Allows for written waiver. There is an option for the other party to waive the requirement in writing, offering flexibility in cases where removing the religious barrier may not be necessary or is mutually agreed to be irrelevant, which could prevent unnecessary hardship or conflict.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Remove Religious Barriers to Remarriage
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
660
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the domestic relations law, in relation to requiring all parties to an annulment or divorce to remove religious barriers to remarriage
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 9 of section 253 of the domestic relations law is renumbered subdivision 10 and a new subdivision 9 is added to read as follows:
9. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions two, three, four and five of this section, in any action or proceeding to annul a marriage or to file for a divorce, both parties shall remove any religious or conscientious barrier to remarriage as described in subdivision six of this section within ninety days of filing for such annulment or divorce. A person who fails to comply with the requirements of this subdivision shall be subject to a fine of twenty-five hundred dollars per week until such barriers to remarriage are removed, unless the other party has waived in writing the requirements of this subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law and shall apply to actions and proceedings commenced on or after such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02159-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.