Moving forward: State's "Vital Records Office" now processing marriage licenses for same-sex couples

MADISON (AP) — Fifty-two Wisconsin counties are now issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

A survey of all 72 counties by The Associated Press on Wednesday found that only 20 counties were still denying same-sex couples who wished to get a marriage license after a federal court judge last week struck down the state's gay marriage ban.

The AP survey found that 483 licenses had been issued statewide as of midday Wednesday. About 76 percent of those, or 368, were issued in Dane and Milwaukee counties.

The state Vital Records Office started processing the licenses on Wednesday, after it had kept them on hold pending legal advice from the attorney general.

This could be a narrow window for couples to get licenses, as the ruling striking the ban could be put on hold.