New Rochelle Ready to Provide Marriage Licenses for Gay Couples

It will be business as usual Monday at the New Rochelle City Clerk's office.

That will be the first day the office is open under the new .

The law goes into effect Sunday recognizing the right of same-sex couple to get married.

"We have everything we need," said Clerk Bennie Giles. "The state provided us with the new marriage license forms, and there's been no dramatic change in our computer system."

All the requirements for applying for a license are listed on the Clerk's office Web site, he said, including type of proper identification, birth certificate and documents needed if either person was previously married.

Information is also available in Spanish, though all required documents must be in English. And it's a $40 cash or money order transaction; no credit cards can be used.

Giles said if a couple had a civil union the marriage in New York would be considered a first one, unless legally married previously.

He said he didn't know if any same-sex couples would come in the first day.

"We had one phone call about three weeks ago," Giles said, "but we had no information at that time."

He also said he got an inquiry from the courts asking if his office would be open , where 10 to 15 couples have expressed interest in tying the knot if a judge grants a waiver.

Giles said if any couples do come to get a marriage license they should be aware there is only one marriage clerk, so they might have to wait.