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"Attorney General Eric Holder announced Friday that the federal government will recognize the 900-plus same-sex marriages that took place in Utah during the two weeks when such unions were legal," NPR's Nina Totenberg writes for us.

That means those couples "will be eligible for all federal benefits," NPR's Carrie Johnson adds.

, extending federal benefits to same-sex couples can be a complicated process. When they are, she's written:


Update at 3:35 p.m. ET. Governor's Office Responds

A statement from Gov. Gary R. Herbert reads:

"The announcement that the Department of Justice will recognize same-sex marriages performed in Utah comes as no surprise and is consistent with previous direction to state agencies. State agencies have always been directed to comply with federal law when providing federal services and will continue to do so. State agencies are directed and will continue to comply with state laws when providing state services."

Update at 2:45 p.m. ET. But State Says 'No' To Joint Tax Returns.

Two of our previous posts on the news from Utah:

Same-Sex Marriages No Longer Recognized, Utah Tells Agencies

Supreme Court Halts Gay Marriages In Utah

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Mark Memmott

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Attorney General Eric Holder announced Friday that the federal government will recognize the 900-plus same-sex marriages that took place in Utah during the two weeks when such unions were legal. That means those couples will be eligible for all federal benefits.

Same-sex couples in Utah made eligible for federal benefits

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