Santa Clara County, CA: Same-sex Marriage FAQs

[keepCAblue]

From today's Mercury News: (note: appointments can made for the ceremony at the Civic Center; the clerk's office does not make appointments for getting the marriage license - they are issued on a first-come-first-served basis. The clerk's office is expecting a high volume of marriage license applicants on June 17th and suggests getting there early. Hours are 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)

Same-sex marriage FAQ
Article Launched: 06/05/2008 01:31:45 AM PDT


Here are some frequently asked questions about same-sex marriages, which are scheduled to begin in California later this month.

Q What will happen to marriages that occur before the November election if voters approve an amendment to the state constitution that restores a ban on gay marriage?

A Those marriages are likely to be the subject of another legal challenge. Gay-marriage opponents argue the ballot measure would render the marriage licenses invalid, but civil rights lawyers say those legal rights cannot be taken away retroactively. Legal experts say courts generally do not reach back in time and take away legal rights that were already in place.


Q When do the weddings start?

A Same-sex marriages will begin Tuesday, June 17. Santa Clara County is highly recommending appointments for couples of any sexual orientation. To make one, call [phone]. The cost of a license is $79, and it's $80 for the ceremony, if you choose the Civic Center as the venue. The Clerk-Recorders Office is on the first floor at 70 W. Hedding St. A chapel, which fits 22, is in the lower level.


Q What will be different?

A The words "Bride" and "Groom" have been replaced with "Party A" and "Party B" on all marriage license applications.


Q Who will perform the marriage ceremonies?

A If you choose the civic center for your ceremony, the county will provide a deputized marriage commissioner. Any adult county resident can apply to be a marriage commissioner, but applicants must complete an orientation class. For more information, call [phone].


Q Who can get married?

A Any two unmarried adults 18 or older, regardless of residency or citizenship. (Juvenile courts rule on younger marriages). Registered domestic partners in California, however, can only marry that partner, unless the most recent domestic partnership has been terminated or a final judgment of dissolution or nullity has been entered, or the domestic partnership terminated due to death.


For more information, go to www.clerkrecorder.org.

-Mary Anne Ostrom, Mercury News

Link: http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9486391?source=rss

[Catherina]

1. Woohoo!

:woohoo:

This is great news!

[DarkTirade]

2. See, we've completely destroyed straight marriages.

No more brides and grooms. :P

[Zuiderelle]

3. Well, I am waiting for all the complaints from those poor brides and grooms that now have to stand

in line with us. I'm certain we'll be hearing about how unfair it is to "normal" people that their plans might get delayed if they don't plan well in advance.

[DarkTirade]

4. Reminds me of a single-panel political comic I saw a while back...

the first year that blacks were allowed to vote in South Africa. A white couple were complaining about the long wait to vote that day, and a black man in front of them said something like, "You've been waiting 20 minutes. We've been waiting 300 years."