Babylon Town Ready for Same-Sex Marriages

The Marriage Equality Act that Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law on June 24 won’t go into effect until this Sunday, but Clerk Carol Quirk and her office are ready to go now.

She told Patch on July 19 that the computer system that processes marriage licenses to the booklets given to couples who apply for the licenses have been properly updated.

“We’ll begin issuing licenses at 9 a.m. , July 25, when we open, and it will be all hands on deck,” Quirk said. “The IT department updated the system, which we tested and it’s fine. The booklets we give couples have been updated. The marriage ceremony I perform is updated.”

Forms have been updated, as well.

“It’s the same form. New York State sent updated versions to all of the town clerks. Now at the top where it read, ‘husband/wife,’ it now reads, ‘husband/wife/spouse,’” said Quirk.

couples looking to be married the same day the license is issued will be out of luck, as New York State requires a 24-hour waiting period. As a result, can get married starting Tuesday, July 26.

“I normally perform weddings on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., but we’re allowing people to call to set up an appointment next week, pending the 24-hour hold,” Quirk said. “They’ll be able to set an appointment for a any day that week except for Monday, as my schedule allows.”

Currently each slot for Thursday, , is full, and Quirk said her office is waiting to see how many more couples will look to get married at Town Hall. To date she’s received about 50 to 60 inquiries about marriage licenses for couples.

“Many will get married at venues other than Town Hall, but we’ll fill in the appointments as they come in, and we’ll try to keep them all together so we’re not doing one a day,” she said.

couples inquiring about or looking to make an appointment for a wedding can call Town Hall on East Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst at 631-957-3000 and ask for the Town Clerk’s office or call 631-957-3005, the direct number for birth, death and marriage licenses.