Majority Of Alabama Counties Now Issuing Marriage

Licenses To Same-Sex Couples

Estate Planning is all about peace of mind. What estate planning is all about is discovering the right
tools to implement your basic requirements. We do this using the most up to date devices so that we
can prepare a personalized strategy at the lowest possible expense.
WASHINGTON -- At least 43 of Alabama's 67 counties are now issuing marriage licenses to same-sex
couples, following a federal judge's order Thursday reiterating that marriage equality is legal in the
state.
Same-sex marriage officially became legal in Alabama Monday, a result of U.S. District Judge Callie
Granade's ruling on the matter in January. But many counties in this conservative state initially
refused to comply. They were following orders from Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy
Moore (R), who told the county probate judges that the federal decision did not apply to them.
On Thursday, Granade attempted to provide some clarity. In an order directed at Probate Judge Don
Davis of Mobile County, Granade said there were no more excuses for denying same-sex couples
marriage licenses. Shortly thereafter, the county began complying.
Other counties have started to follow suit. On Thursday, before Granade's order, there were just 23
counties in Alabama marrying same-sex couples, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
That number had nearly doubled as of Friday midday, according to data from the Human Rights
Campaign, Freedom to Marry and calls made to probate judges' offices by The Huffington Post.
"These numbers represent a seismic shift in favor of equality and justice. Resistance to happy, loving
and committed gay couples getting married is quickly crumbling throughout the state," said Fred
Sainz, the Human Rights Campaign's vice president for communications. "Judge Granade's order
was quickly heeded and we would expect that by the end of the day, the vast majority of Alabama's
counties will allow gay couples to marry."
Indeed, the situation is continuing to change. Hale, Marion and Pickens counties aren't currently
issuing licenses to same-sex couples, but said they will start next week.

Probate Judge Ben Bowden in Covington County said he plans to sit down Friday to look at
Granade's order to see if it should apply to his jurisdiction. Currently, Covington County is issuing
licenses to heterosexual couples only.
"I haven't had time today to look at Judge Granade's order," he said. "I've been in hearings this
morning, so I just really haven't had time to focus on it and see what effect, if Estate Planning
Lawyers any, it would have on my original decision. It's under evaluation, but I plan to set aside
some time today to really look at that."
In some counties, there was just confusion. A Bibb County employee said the probate county judge
has been out sick most of the week, so the county is still operating on his directions from last week.
A Clarke County employee said they were surprised they hadn't received any new marching orders,

but noted that their judge was in court most of the day.
Other counties seem to be holding out. A representative with the Clay County probate court
https://www.fidelity.com/estate-planning-inheritance/overview told The Huffington Post that they
would continue to follow Moore's order unless there's a federal order specifically directed at them.
"That was Mobile County, this is Cleburne County," said a representative in that jurisdiction when
asked why they were still not issuing licenses to same-sex couples after Granade's order.
Lawyers who have represented same-sex couples fighting to get married in Alabama said they may
bring legal challenges against other individual probate judges if they don't start recognizing
marriage equality.
Alabama is the 37th state where same-sex couples can legally wed.
Counties issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples: Autauga, Barbour, Baldwin, Blount, Bullock,
Butler, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Coffee, Colbert, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Elmore,
Escambia, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale,
Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Lowndes, Macon, Madison, Marshall Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery,
Morgan, Perry, Russell, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, Wilcox, Winston.
Counties issuing marriage licenses to heterosexual couples only: Chambers, Clay, Cleburne,
Covington, Dekalb, Marengo, Shelby, Sumter, St. Clair, Washington.

Counties issuing no marriage licenses: Bibb,

Choctaw, Clarke, Coosa, Cullman, Geneva,
Houston, Pike, Randolph, Tallapoosa, Walker.
Counties that will start issuing marriage
licenses to same-sex couples next week:
Hale, Marion, Pickens.
Julia Craven, Jesse Rifkin and Maxwell Tani contributed reporting.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/13/alabama-gay-marriage_n_6679192.html
Estate preparation is regarding peace of mind. The procedure itself is extremely important as well as
can assist you produce an excellent, solid functioning plan that will take care of you, your children,
and also your belongings in instance of your death or impairment.