June 6 start for same-sex couple marriage license applications in some counties

Same-sex couples can apply for marriage licenses in Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington counties starting June 6.

Minnesota's same-sex marriage law takes effect Aug. 1. The state requires a five-day waiting period before couples can get married, said Hennepin County Registrar Mark Chapin said, but the county attorney has advised that the county can begin taking marriage applications as soon as the county is ready.

"In the case of a same-sex couple, they make application prior to Aug. 1, their license will actually say Aug. 1 on it rather than five days from the date they apply, just because that's the prescription in the new law," Chapin said.

That will allow for a more orderly application process, he said.

"Our staffing is really tight here at Hennepin County and we were concerned that our service centers were really going to get a flood of applications on Aug. 1," Chapin said. "In order to meet the requirements of the law, we're very pleased that we can accept the applications a week from now."

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