Pidyon haBen for a child of a Jewish mother and a non-Jewish father

Hi,

A son born to a Jewish mother and a non-Jewish father must have pidyon haben (assuming the general criteria for pidyon haben are met). If there is concern that the child might not do it himself upon reaching adulthood, the mother's father (or others) may do it on his behalf.

The money used for the pidyon should be assigned to the child for the sake of redemption, and the blessing recited should be changed to "al pidyon habechor".

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Yoreh Deah 1:195)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Pidyon haben for the son of a woman who converts to Judaism

Hi,

If a woman converts to Judaism while pregnant with her first child, and that child is a boy, then he performs pidyon haben for himself once he reaches adulthood.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Yoreh Deah 1:194 [see more there regarding what to do while he is a minor])

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Pidyon haBen with unknown lineage

Hi,

The ritual of pidyon haben is performed for a firstborn son of parents who are from neither kohen nor levi stock, and only if this was the mother's first pregnancy.

If a boy had not had a pidyon haben, and he does not know whether his parents had kohen or levi lineage, then upon reaching adulthood he should perform pidyon haben without reciting a blessing.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Yoreh Deah 1:188)

Have a great day,
Mordechai