Alabama votes to end marriage licenses
Source: The Hill
Alabama's House voted on Thursday to end the requirement for a marriage license in the state.
The bill ends the requirements for both a license and a wedding ceremony, according to AL.com. If the governor signs the legislation, marriage in the state will only require a couple to file for a certificate.
After being passed by the state Senate and House, the bill now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey (R) to be potentially signed into law.
The legislation works around the Alabama probate judges who have refused to issue same-sex marriage licenses since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015.
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/445388-alabama-votes-to-end-marriage-licenses
SWBTATTReg
(22,059 posts)for the foreseeable future? Who in the future is going to really want to live there? Companies will seriously look at the operating environment and of course the pool of available labor, and see that they'll probably have some issues in attracting skilled workers who want to work there. I have family (or had family there) in Huntsville, Alabama/northern part of Alabama (they moved away to other states to retire/etc.).
DBoon
(22,338 posts)Than have "foreigners" with strange ideas move into their state
Progressive Jones
(6,011 posts)turbinetree
(24,683 posts)who is head of the household...............so now its all common law marriages, nope.................
https://www.alabamalegalhelp.org/resource/common-law-marriage-in-alabama
procon
(15,805 posts)as valid in other states? The responsible thing to do would be to fire the judges for refusing to perform their duties. The lawmakers are too timid to stand up to the powerful religious factions that have usurped the law and replaced it with church doctrine.
We are well on the road to becoming a theocracy.
marybourg
(12,584 posts)couples file for certificates, and couples follow the requirements, then other states and the federal government will recognize the marriage. Many states, including NY, dont require a ceremony. In NY, you can marry with a contract, although few people do.
procon
(15,805 posts)Couple have to phyically appear before some state designated official to sign off their documents to make their marriage legal? At the very least just to determine that no one was a minor or being coerced to do something against their will.
There's already a pretty low bar on what constitutes an official who can sign off on marraige licenses. For $20 you can get an official "pastor" card from some so-called churches on the internet and set up your very own wedding chapel in your backyard tool shed. It's all perfectly legal and the marraiges are legit, but the couples still have to appear in person.
TomSlick
(11,086 posts)A marriage that is valid in the State in which it was contracted - yes, marriage is essentially a contract - must be recognized in all other States. For example, if a couple have entered into a common law marriage in a State that authorizes such and then move into a State that does not recognize common law marriage, they are nevertheless married.
Similarly, if first cousins marry in State that allows such marriages move into a State that forbids such marriages, they remain married.
Now, a question from a recent Arkansas Bar Exam: Husband and wife marry in Arkansas - which is not a community property State. They move to Texas - which is a community property State. They then move to Louisiana - and nobody understands the law in Louisiana. Question: Are they still brother and sister?
FakeNoose
(32,556 posts)Or maybe they haven't thought that far ahead.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)Do you still need to get divorced of you go your separate ways?
brooklynite
(94,302 posts)Once the marriage is certified, all your rights are protected.
ToxMarz
(2,162 posts)But why should there be anymore to marriage than this as far as the government is concerned. The government shouldn't be in the marriage business except that we have enacted by law so many benefits that come with marriage that there needs to be some way legally to confer these benefits/right. That should be their only role.
Nasruddin
(750 posts)Is probably passee.
Unwinding it isn't going to be easy - glad it's Alabama that's going to take the hammering.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)Of course, the GOPer "gubnor" can still veto this one.
BamaRefugee
(3,483 posts)aggiesal
(8,907 posts)Government needs to get out of the Marriage Making business.
Issue the certificate.
If the loving couple wants to get married in what ever church they
want to get married in or simply have a wedding vows ceremony,
that's their business.
Government should only have to record the union for tax purposes,
spousal benefits, ..., that's it.
groundloop
(11,513 posts)aggiesal
(8,907 posts)OriginalGeek
(12,132 posts)has been wishing for this forever. He doesn't care who loves who - he cares about getting government out of personal business. And as long as gay couples have every right that straight couples have I'm not sure I'm not in agreement with this one thing.
IronLionZion
(45,380 posts)and is perfectly legal and valid marriage
Advocates say the new law will require judges to treat all marriages as equal under Alabama law. Critics say it provides cover to biased judges and harms the wedding industry.
Scalded Nun
(1,235 posts)More importantly, does the woman get that same right?
If this was pushed by conservatives, there is at least one ulterior motive in there, probably more than one.
sandensea
(21,595 posts)"Looks like we waited too long to make it official!"
BigDemVoter
(4,149 posts)Now if these motherfuckers were trying to legitimize one type of marriage over another, THEN I would have a problem. . .
Now I don't think it's ANY surprise these ass clowns are trying to say that one kind of marriage is less valid than another type.
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)In fact wish more states would follow suit. I'd rather file a simple affidavit but if a couple wants to say some magical words in front of a clergyman they can do that too.
Win-win.