Wisconsin County To Refund Marriage License Fee

APPLETON, Wis. (AP) -- Appleton-area couples who applied for marriage licenses but didn't receive them before a federal judge halted same-sex weddings will receive full refunds of their application fees.

The Outagamie County clerk's office initially said it would refund $55 that would have gone to the state but keep its $45 share of the $100 application fee. But the county executive's office now says Executive Thomas Nelson will refund the $45 from his budget.

Many county clerks waived Wisconsin's five-day waiting period for marriage licenses so same-sex couples could marry quickly after a federal judge declared the state's gay marriage ban unconstitutional.

Outagamie County Clerk Lori O'Bright did not waive the waiting period in most cases, so some couples who were waiting for licenses when the judge halted ceremonies on Friday sought refunds.