John Merrill announces online business filings now available in Montgomery County
Submitting mandatory business filings in Alabama is going to be a little bit easier for residents in Montgomery County thanks to Secretary of State John Merrill. On Tuesday, Merrill announced the continued expansion of online filing tools for citizens and businesses to submit filing documentation to the Secretary of State’s Office and the county Probate Judge’s Office, when the county signed on to provide its citizens the ability to form a Domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC) through an online portal on the website of the Alabama Secretary of State. This latest expansion, was accomplished in collaboration with Montgomery County Probate Judge Steven Reed. Online filings The Alabama Secretary of State’s Office is the repository for all business filings in the state of Alabama. State law requires the state to record these filings and for them to be made available to the public for inspection. It also requires a fee be charged and empowers the Secretary of State to charge an additional $100 to expedite the filings process; however, with Merrill’s increased efficiencies in the administration of these processes, this fee is no longer necessary, providing additional cost savings to the people of the Alabama. In an effort to further expedite the processing time for new or existing businesses in Alabama, Secretary Merrill implemented an online filing system to allow businesses to complete the registration process without extended time away from their new venture. In May, Baldwin County’s Probate Judge Tim Russell and Jackson County’s Probate Judge Victor Manning became the first counties to implement the program, which is completely free for any county that agrees to participate. Montgomery is Alabama’s latest county to join the program. Merrill’s history of cutting burdensome red tape When Secretary Merrill was campaigning to become Alabama’s 53rd Secretary of State, he learned that state filings were delayed up to periods of between five to nine months from the time of receipt in the Secretary of State’s Office. This length of time did not pay respect to Alabama’s working businesses and families and, with that in mind, Secretary Merrill has worked to process business corporation filings on a “same day, no later than next business day” approach. The need to even provide for an expedite fee has virtually been eliminated. “It is important for the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office to work with all our counties to enhance online business services to benefit Alabamians who wish to form a business corporation. When business thrives our communities prosper and, with both, the quality of life for all our citizens improves. Government should never make forming a business difficult. Instead, we should be working to make government work at the speed of business,” said Merrill. This process is currently available for domestic limited liability filings and For-Profit Domestic Business Corporations. As time progresses, additional services will be added such as the ability to form online Domestic Nonprofit Corporations, LPs, LLPs, LLLPs and Professional Associations. All of the electronic services offered by the Secretary of State’s Office can be found on the website at sos.alabama.gov under the Business Services app icon.
Annemarie Axon confirmed as U.S. District Judge
U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby released at statement on Wednesday celebrating the confirmation vote for U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama, Annemarie Carney Axon. Axon, who nominated for the position by President Donald Trump in 2017, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee for the consideration of her nomination this week. “It is critically important for a judge to be fair, open-minded, courteous, and respectful to the attorneys and parties in each case,” Axon told the committee; promising to “conduct [herself] and [her] courtroom in a manner that strives to leave people with the conviction that they were treated fairly, respectfully, and that [she] followed the law, regardless of the outcome.” She then ended her hearing with a statement, saying that “our democracy demands an independent judiciary whose decisions are based exclusively on the law, as it is written.” Shelby congratulated Axon in a news release, saying “Annemarie Axon is exceptionally qualified to be a U.S. district judge. Her strong, respectful temperament and commitment to impartiality make her well-suited for this esteemed position. Alabama’s district judges must be confirmed as swiftly as possible to ensure the efficiency of our judicial system. These judges serve as the backbone of the United States Judicial Branch, and I am honored to have played a part in Axon’s confirmation today.” Axon was one of seven Alabama judicial nominees awaiting confirmation from the Judiciary Committee. The other nominees include: Terry F. Moorer Jeffrey Beaverstock Emily Coody Marks Liles Burke Andrew Brasher Corey Maze Axon is currently a member of the Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff, & Brandt, LLC, legal team in Birmingham, where she focuses on fiduciary and probate litigation. Her legal career began in 2000 at the Edwards & Angell, LLP, firm in Rhode Island. She is still a member of both the Alabama and Rhode Island State Bar Associations. “We are extremely proud of Annemarie and congratulate her on her confirmation. Selfishly we hate to lose Annemarie as a valuable and integral member of our firm, but we know her temperament and sound judgment will make her a great federal judge,” said Jay Clark, managing member at Wallace Jordan. She also serves as the President of the YWCA Junior Board, a member of the Girls on the Run Board of Directors, and a member of the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation Board.
Kay Ivey applauds Alabama Military Stability Foundation selection for Executive Director
Governor Kay Ivey, chair of the Alabama Military Stability Commission, complimented the Alabama Military Stability Foundation’s selection of Robert La Branche as Executive Director on Friday. “I commend the Alabama Military Stability Foundation on their selection of Robert La Branche to serve as Executive Director. As chair of the Military Stability Commission, I value the partnership of the Foundation in financially supporting the work of the Commission,” said Ivey. “Robert’s dedication to our nation’s military will be a major contributor to the success of both organizations. Alabamians are steadfast in our support for our military, as is Robert. I’ve known Robert for several years and am confident that he will be exceptional in furthering Alabama’s commitment to protecting our nation.” The Alabama Military Stability Commission, led by Ivey, works in partnership with the Alabama Military Stability Foundation. By studying and evaluating all currently assigned military forces and civilian contractors, as well as how these resources move in and out of Alabama, the two groups assure the stability of Alabama-assigned Department of Defense resources. “I am honored to have been selected by the Alabama Military Stability Foundation to serve as Executive Director and once again assist our great state’s defense community. Alabama and our people have a rich heritage of answering the call to serve our nation through the armed forces,” said La Branche. “I look forward to working with the Foundation, the Commission, Governor Ivey and community leaders throughout Alabama to preserve and expand our military assets and missions.” La Branche had an eight-year career as an aerospace, defense, and foreign policy staffer in the Washington, D.C. in the offices of Sen. Jeff Sessions and members of the Alabama, Florida, and Texas Delegations. In late 2014, Director La Branche returned to Alabama and is currently an aerospace and defense consultant as Principal of Real Strategies, LLC in Huntsville, and serves as Regional Deputy Director for Public Policy for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
