Official documents will now pronounce couples spouse and spouse instead of husband and wife.
On Tuesday, Alachua County clerks received revised forms, including marriage licenses and divorce forms, that replace the words ‘husband’ and ‘wife’ with ‘spouse.’
"There are no complications with the adjustment of these forms — this is what we’re here for," said Edward Stiles, 58, assistant clerk and chief deputy recorder at the Alachua County Courthouse.
Florida officials issued the new forms Sunday to avoid confusion about gender, Stiles said. He said he hopes the court website will reflect the changes by Friday.
"The wording was very important because it not only affects (the Office of) Vital Statistics, it is also affects the official marriage license that is recorded in the clerk’s official records," Stiles said. "It is important that all forms remain consistent."
The annual maintenance on their software will cover all expenditures caused by the adjustments of the forms.
"I think using the word ‘spouse’ will shape how same-sex marriage will be socially conceived in the future," said Alexa Gebert, 19, a UF political science sophomore. "The reason why people disagree with same-sex marriage has to do with it being so instilled in the legal system, and now that it is being legally changed it will give the movement more strength."
