Florida clerks to use new forms after gay marriage ruling

Florida’s court clerks are going to start using new marriage and divorce forms that no longer use the words “husband” and “wife.”

State officials on Monday began sending the new forms to county clerks. Clerks asked for new forms after Florida’s ban on same sex marriage ended. Florida’s ban ended in January, but it wasn’t until June that the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage across the country.

The new forms will have the words “spouse” instead of husband and wife or bride and groom.

Clerks will start using the revised forms on Oct. 1.

There is still an ongoing legal battle over whether both same sex parents can be listed on birth certificates issued by the state.

Republished with permission of The Associated Press.