Same-Sex Couples Who Got Married On Licenses Issued In Montco Before Ban Was Struck Down Can Keep Anniversary Date
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- Dozens of couples in Montgomery County who got married before a federal court overturned the state's ban on same sex marriage will be allowed to keep their original anniversary dates.
In question, same sex marriages performed on licenses that were issued in Montgomery County before the state's ban on gay marriage was struck down.
In July, 2013, Montgomery County register of wills D. Bruce Hanes' office issued 174 marriage licenses before a court order told the office to stop. Then, in May 2014, the federal court ruling that declared the ban unconstitutional.
But there was one loose end: The Pennsylvania department of health claimed the marriages in question weren't valid until the date of the court ruling, May 20, 2014.
Hanes disagreed. "If this is right that has existed, and those two laws are unconstitutional, then the valid date would be the date that the marriage ceremony occurred."
That loose end tied up as the department of health says it won't challenge using the dates of the ceremonies.
