Gay Marriage: King County to Open for Licenses at Midnight on Dec. 6

Same sex couples in Washington can get their marriage licenses the first minute that gay marriage is legal in the state.

The King County Recorder's Office in Seattle will be open at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 6—the day that the November general election is certified. Couples may line up at the recorder's office in the King County Administration building at 500 Fourth Ave., Suite 311, Seattle, starting at 10 p.m. Dec. 5.

Washington voters approved Referendum 74, which affirmed the legislatively backed law allowing for same sex marriage in this state, in the Nov. 6 general election.

“I don't want couples to wait a minute longer than legally necessary to get the rights that voters have recognized,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine, who will personally sign the first marriage licenses, in a prepared statement.

However, the marriage license is just the first legal step in getting married. All couples must wait three days before exchanging vows, which means the first date that same sex couples can get married in Washington is Sunday, Dec. 9.

The Associated Press reported that Seattle City Hall will be open between noon and 5 p.m. Dec. 9, after eight municipal judges decided to donate their time to marry couples.

For information on how to obtain a license and licensing fees, visit www.kingcounty.gov/marriage.