They may not be able to buy love, but couples in New Castle County can now charge marriage.
Ken Boulden, New Castle County Clerk of the Peace, began accepting credit cards for marriage licenses on August 1.
When Boulden took office in 1997, most couples paid for their marriage licenses with a personal check, but the office stopped accepting checks about 10 years ago.
“You would be amazed how many people have bounced checks for marriage licenses,” he said.
The office adopted a cash-only policy and Boulden had an ATM machine installed in the lobby of the City/County Building in Wilmington.
But times change, Boulden said, and few couples carry cash anymore. Money tends to be one of the last things people think of when they are about to be married, he said.
The cost of marriage licenses has also increased from $20 to $30, so Boulden decided to start accepting credit and debit to make it easier for couples to wed.
Making marriage more user-friendly should be a comfort for stressed couples and generate more revenue for the county, Boulden said.
