Marriage in the News: Unintended Consequences

Posted on May 28, 2007 by Heather Long

So, I was reading the news reports earlier and one article caught my eye. Apparently, the Michigan Supreme Court agreed to hear National Pride at Work v. Governor of Michigan on May 24th. What Is This Case? As you may recall in my series on Marriage Laws, Michigan added an amendment to their state constitution banning state government recognition of gay marriage. Apparently, the wording of that amendment has created some consequences that supporters of the same-sex marriage ban were not expecting. What Consequences? It seems that a lower court said that the amendment, voted on in 2004, bans not … Continue reading →

What Are Secret Marriages?

Posted on May 27, 2007 by Heather Long

As you may know, I’ve been working on a series covering marriage laws throughout the 50 United States. Interestingly enough, as I was looking up laws in Michigan, I found out they have had a law on the books since 1897 governing secret marriages. So what is a secret marriage? So glad you asked, because I was curious and went to do some digging. Secret Marriages Secret marriages are just that – a marriage that occurs in secret. They are civil ceremonies that allow a couple to get married without there being an open record of the marriage. Prince Albert … Continue reading →

Marriage Laws – Michigan & Illinois

Posted on May 26, 2007 by Heather Long

Let’s take a swing north as we examine the Marriage Laws of the 50 states. Today, we’re pausing in Michigan and Illinois in the gorgeous areas around the Great Lakes and more. So, without further ado, let’s check out the marriage laws in Michigan and Illinois. Michigan Non-residents who apply for a marriage license in Michigan will pay a fee that is $10 higher. The fee for residents is about $20, so for non-residents the fee is about $30. Be sure to bring cash as most counties do not accept any other form of tender. Residents should apply in the … Continue reading →