Counties gearing up for rush of same-sex marriage license applicants starting Dec. 6
With same-sex marriage expected to pass in Washington, county officials are gearing up for a rush of people seeking to get married.
On Dec. 6, when the election results are officially certified by the state, same-sex couples hope to be able to walk into county records buildings and pick up their marriage license – and both King and Pierce counties are gearing up for an onslaught of couples doing just that.
With Referendum 74 poised to pass in Washington, some same-sex couples are ready to race to the courthouse or wedding chapel.
“We expect large numbers of applicants for marriage licenses in those first few days, so our King County Recorder’s Office will be open for extended hours for the issuance of marriage licenses on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 6 and 7, and even on Saturday, Dec. 8,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said Wednesday.
Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson said, “If referendum 74 passes, we’ll be ready to go December 6th.”
And that means lots more paperwork for Washington’s licensing staff. Pierce County generally gives out about 6,000 marriage licenses; Anderson expects that number to double.
She said the reason, in part, is “pent-up demand; people from other states will come to that jurisdiction to get married, some people in the county have wanted to be married for a long time, or in a domestic partnership who want to be married.”
It may be new to same-sex couples, but the licensing process isn’t changing. New couples will fill out an application, pay a $64 fee -- wait three days to perform the ceremony – then look for the state marriage certificate in the mail.
Existing domestic partnerships that are already officially registered with the state will automatically convert into marriages on June 30, 2014, unless the couple doesn’t want to wait – in which case – they, too, can get in line for a marriage license, and the partnership will dissolve.
Like King County, Pierce County plans to have extended hours on Thursday, Dec. 6, and through the weekend. Both counties also altering application forms to get rid of gender-specific language.
“I guarantee you that every customer that comes to Pierce County to apply for a marriage license, regardless of their sex or status, is going to get a cheerful, welcoming response, and they’re going to feel very comfortable,” Anderson said.
County officials are also expecting crowds protesting same-sex marriage when it takes effect on Dec. 6, so they’re beefing up security and creating a free-speech zone for those who aren’t celebrating.
It may be new to same-sex couples, but the licensing process isn’t changing. New couples will fill out an application, pay a $64 fee -- wait three days to perform the ceremony – then look for the state marriage certificate in the mail.
Existing domestic partnerships that are already officially registered with the state will automatically convert into marriages on June 30, 2014, unless the couple doesn’t want to wait – in which case – they, too, can get in line for a marriage license, and the partnership will dissolve.
Like King County, Pierce County plans to have extended hours on Thursday, Dec. 6, and through the weekend. Both counties also altering application forms to get rid of gender-specific language.
“I guarantee you that every customer that comes to Pierce County to apply for a marriage license, regardless of their sex or status, is going to get a cheerful, welcoming response, and they’re going to feel very comfortable,” Anderson said.
County officials are also expecting crowds protesting same-sex marriage when it takes effect on Dec. 6, so they’re beefing up security and creating a free-speech zone for those who aren’t celebrating.
Here are links to the King, Pierce and Snohomish marriage licensing offices:
http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/abtus/ourorg/aud/marriage.htm
http://www.kingcounty.gov/courts/marriage.aspx
http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/departments/auditor/divisions/recording/marriage/
--Kate Burgess, Q13 FOX News reporter