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The push for updated wording in Michigan marriage laws

Posted at 4:32 PM, Nov 05, 2015
and last updated 2015-11-05 17:43:41-05

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- It's been months since the Supreme Court lifted the ban on same sex marriage but the wording in the Michigan marriage laws did not follow suit.

When couples go to the county clerk to get their marriage license, they're required to read excerpts.  It's a list of laws using outdated language reading "Marriage is inherently a unique relationship between a man and a woman."

Kent County Clerk Mary Hollinrake says making changes to these laws are completely out of her hands.

She says that a commission in Lansing is expected to review more 250 laws and then pass them on to the State Legislature for voting.

63rd District Court Judge Sara Smolenski says she's married couples who have talked about their marriage application process being very uncomfortable due to the outdated wording.

Smolenski says the process to get the wording in these laws changed is too slow, and she's hoping for change.