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First Same-Sex Marriage Licenses Issued in Smith, Gregg Counties

Posted/updated on: June 30, 2015 at 12:59 pm
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vlcsnap-2015-06-29-12h30m09s137_1435599028691_1651859_ver1.0EAST TEXAS — Residents of Smith and Gregg Counties are now cleared to receive same-sex marriage licenses following the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on the issue this past Friday. The Smith County Clerk’s Office Monday issued its first such license at 9:25 a.m. The Vital Statistics Department opened at 9:15 a.m. after a short staff meeting, which included a teleconference with its software vendor, according to County Clerk Karen Phillips.

On Friday, the State of Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics had not distributed any new forms for same-sex marriage license applications. Phillips explains that all county clerks are only custodians of records and, by law, are not allowed to alter state forms. The forms were updated Friday night but had issues the state felt needed to be revisited, according to Phillips. Officials say the newly corrected formal marriage form was placed in the county’s computer system Monday morning. The informal marriage form is still being revised, according to Phillips. She says the state will notify county clerks as soon as that form has been updated.

Meanwhile, KETK reports the first same-sex marriage license was issued in Gregg County around 11 Monday morning. Gregg County officials cited concerns similar to those voiced in Smith County. They say for now, they are handling the paperwork using a typewriter and cutting and pasting the gender-neutral applications. That system was expected to stay in place until the configuration of the new forms into their software program was completed.



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