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Marriage License Fees Could Increase in Knox County
The Knox County Clerk now has a better idea of what could be charged for the new civil union licenses state law allows him to issue, and that's leading to an increase in costs for marriage licenses as well.

The Knox County Board Finance Committee Tuesday night voted to implement a $30 fee for civil union licenses, and increase the fee for marriage licenses from $20 to $30.

Knox County Clerk Scott Erickson says a state oversight when the civil union law was first passed is leading to the discussion about fees.

"When [the Legislature] passed the law to put civil unions in, there were some spots that they missed," Erickson said. "One of the spots they missed allowed us to charge fees. It was implied that the civil union fees and marriage licenses would be the same fee, but they never were set down in the statute."

Erickson says that was rectified with another law that was passed, which also set that fees could be no higher than $75, and civil union and marriage license fees must be the same.

The increase in fees to $30 from $20 is, Erickson says, so that his office can better meet costs, which includes $5 that must go to the state's Domestic Violence fund.

The full Knox County Board will vote on the increase Monday. Erickson says so far six civil union licenses have been given in Knox County, along with 104 marriage licenses as of the end of May.
06 22 11 by Newsroom
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