When Linnette Lebron lay dying of stage four stomach cancer in a Camden hospital, the man she loved knew only one thing: That he wanted to marry his beloved before it was too late.
But there was the matter the mandatory 72-hour waiting period New Jersey requires before issuing a marriage license. Only a Superior Court judge can waive the waiting period in cases of emergency.
So Omar Estevez was forced to tear himself away from Lebron's bedside - five precious hours when doctors warned her death was imminent - to complete the paperwork necessary for a wedding to proceed.
With the help of family and friends, Estevez did succeed in getting the paperwork. He and Lebron exchanged "I do's" in the hospital - one day before his bride died.
Now a bill moving through the state Legislature would guarantee that couples facing similar challenges would not have to endure the same agony.
"Linnette Lebron's Law," named in honor of the young wife who died in 2015, would reduce the waiting period and requirements for couples who want to enter into a marriage or civil union when one of the partners is terminally ill.
"This can be a rare situation for a family, but one that deserves special attention and provisions under the law," said Assemblywoman Carol Murphy (D-Burlington), one of the bill's sponsors.
The bill passed the Assembly recently 74-0, with six members not voting. It heads to the Senate for further action.
As the law now stands, if you want to marry or enter into a civil union in the Garden State, you must first obtain a license from a licensing officer and deliver it to the person who will be officiating.
There are also those mandated 72 hours of waiting, from the time you apply until the license is issued, unless the Superior Court has issued an order waiving the time.
Under the proposed change, co-sponsored by Democrats Annette Quijano (Union) and Adam Taliaferro (Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem), the mandatory waiting period would be waived for unions involving a terminally ill patient who is hospitalized, providing the treating physician certifies the illness to the licensing officer.
Under the terms of the bill, "terminally ill" means the patient can reasonably be expected to die within 12 months of less.
This is a compassionate measure, aimed at easing the burden on couples when they see their precious time slipping away. During those hours and days. they should be able to focus on helping each other find comfort and grace, not on jumping through legal hoops.
Thankfully, few engaged couples find themselves in this nightmarish scenario. For those who do, Linnette Lebron's Law would be a blessing.
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