I do have concerns that there's a political focus on these out-of-state couples.

The law says the state cannot marry out-of-state couples if their marriage would be void in the couples' home states.

The challenges could come from the out-of-state couples themselves or from the Massachusetts municipalities.

He could also seek an injunction to stop the clerks from issuing licenses to out-of-state couples.

Vermont, with about 620,000 people, granted 405 civil unions in the first month, though many were for out-of-state couples.

By day's end, more than one-third of the applications were from out-of-state couples.

Other out-of-state couples face similar problems once home.

The application also warns out-of-state couples that if they do not actually intend to move to Massachusetts, their marriage "shall be null and void."

Some out-of-state couples plan to exploit established legal loopholes, especially one that allows people with weekend homes in Massachusetts to be considered residents.