Increase In Marriage Licenses In Contra Costa County Since Prop. 8 Ruling

Contra Costa County has seen an increase in the number of its marriage licenses since Prop. 8 was overturned in late June.

Frederick Garcia, the Contra Costa Clerk-Recorder services manager, said the county handed out 178 marriage licenses during the first week of July. That week include a July 4th holiday in which county offices were closed.

That compares with 112 licenses during the first week of June.

On Monday, July 1, the county clerk's office gave out 64 licenses compared to 33 on June 3, the first Monday in June.

So far this month, there have been 260 marriage licenses approved in Contra Costa County.

In addition, the county performed 27 wedding ceremonies on July 1 compared to two on June 3.

The county does not record whether the licenses or ceremonies are for same-sex or opposite-sex couples, but Garcia said the Prop. 8 ruling is certainly a factor in the increase.

"We seem them (same-sex couples) come in every day," he said.

The county charges $85 for a public marriage license and $90 for a confidential marriage license. Wedding ceremonies cost $60.

On June 26, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Prop. 8, the voter-approved measure passed in 2008 which banned gay marriage in California. On June 28, state officials gave the go-ahead for gay couples to wed.