Cost of 'I do' could climb

Walking down the aisle in Idaho could be a pricier journey.

Raising the cost of marriage licenses by $20 could be an income booster for the state, Justice Daniel Eismann said to the Legislature this week in his State of the Judiciary speech.

This hike could generate much-needed funds to provide legal help in civil cases involving children and families, he said.

Some in Kootenai County have doubts.

"I can understand them wanting to raise it a little bit, but I think that $20 jump is excessive," said Don Knapp, co-owner of the Hitching Post Wedding Chapel in Coeur d'Alene.

Knapp, who sees several hundred couples exchange vows each year, said the $28 license fee in Kootenai County is a deal compared to most states, and is a lure to many couples wanting to tie the knot.

A fee increase might cost him customers from out of state, Knapp said.

"There's a lot of people who come from Spokane and the Tri-Cities," he said. "I would think that (the license cost) would have something to do with it."

Elena Ambro and Jeremy Colman greeted their families with smiles at the Hitching Post on

Wednesday afternoon, moments before their wedding.

The Plummer couple chose the venue both to follow family tradition, and to avoid the expense of a lavish wedding, Colman said.

"We're facing financial difficulties at this time," the 36-year-old said, adding that they are raising four little ones and living with relatives. "We're trying to save up to get our own place."

For couples in their situation, Ambro said, a steeper license fee could be an unwelcome burden.

"Some people don't have the money to do that," said Ambro, 32, who works at the Coeur d'Alene Casino. "I think the current price is reasonable."

According to the state supreme court justice, the fee increase could generate $280,000 annually to provide legal help for civil cases.

Kootenai County could use that help, said Karlene Behringer, county trial court administrator.

Many individuals in divorce and custody cases have to represent themselves because they can't afford attorneys, she said.

"I think the economy has had an impact on the number of divorce cases filed, and the economy has also had an effect on the amount of people who can afford legal representation," Behringer said.

The disadvantage for those representing themselves, she added, is that they are held to the same standard as a licensed attorney.

"If you're a lay person and representing yourself, you probably don't know when you should object to the other person's attorney," she said. "It would be great if there was funding available to have attorneys who could assist, especially in complicated cases. That would benefit the system as a whole."

A marriage license in Idaho is roughly $30 statewide, but only on weekdays. In Kootenai County, the fee is $28 on weekdays and $45 on Saturdays.

A license costs about $52 in Washington, though it varies by county. A license is $60 in Oregon and $30.25 in Montana.

Tina Wilde, supervisor for the county Recorder's Office, said the county issues between 3,400 and 4,000 licenses a year.

She doesn't think a fee increase would scare off potential newlyweds, she said.

Idaho doesn't have waiting periods like other states, she pointed out. Witnesses aren't required, and Idaho licenses don't expire.

"I think they would still come to Idaho," Wilde said.

Sen. Jim Hammond said he doesn't expect the state to approve such an increase.

"There's not very many folks in the Legislature who want to increase any costs at this point in government," the Post Falls Republican explained.

He doubts an extra $20 fee would deter folks from getting hitched, though.

"I think if that's the difference between them getting married and not, perhaps they'd better delay until they're in a better economic situation," he said.