TRENTON — A handful of New Jersey cities will begin issuing marriage licenses Friday to same-sex couples despite an order from the state Health Department telling them to hold off until the state Supreme Court decides whether the ceremonies would be legally binding.

The state’s highest court is expected to decide as early as Friday whether same-sex weddings will begin at 12:01 a.m. Monday, as ordered last month by Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson in Mercer County, or be delayed while the court decides an appeal of Jacobson’s ruling from the Christie administration.

State Registrar Vincent Arrisi, who identified himself as "Vinnie" in an e-mail he sent to municipal officials Friday, said he was aware the towns were "being inundated with questions and requests from the public."

"We are still awaiting legal direction on it and when we can start taking applications," Arrisi said in his e-mail. "At this point, you cannot take applications for same-sex marriages until you hear from this office that we have the authority to do so.

"All the marriage forms have been modified and are ready to go when we receive official word and will be uploaded to our website and will be ready to go," the e-mail said.

Donna Leusner, a spokeswoman for the Health Department, said Arrisi "was merely advising that he is awaiting legal guidance. The issue of a stay is still not settled by the Supreme Court."

Asbury Park administrator Terence Reidy said the city has fielded at least two dozen calls from couples asking whether it is issuing marriage license applications.

He said he’s told them yes.

"We’re doing it so that we’re ready," Reidy said. "If something happens — the law changes — the city isn’t going to do anything in violation of any ruling or regulation. We’re being proactive so that when the 21st comes, any couple that wants to be married, they’re ready and we’re ready."

"Absent a legally binding order not to issue these applications, it is our understanding of the law, that we have the right and obligation to begin issuing applications tomorrow," Reidy said. "Please be clear, this is not a act of civil disobedience, but rather our interpretation of what the law permits at this time."

Jersey City also intends to begin issuing licenses Friday, Mayor Steve Fulop said.

"As the largest LGBT community in New Jersey and one of the first in the state to issue civil unions, we are intending on being the first to issue licenses and perform weddings on Monday," Fulop said in a statement. "We are currently working to ensure that the marriage certificates will be legal and binding."

Elsewhere, Red Bank is expected to begin issuing licenses Friday, according to redbankgreen.com. Officials did not respond to calls seeking comment.

In Lambertville, Mayor David DelVecchio said based on the registrar’s order, he’s holding off until Monday to take action.

Unless the Supreme Court issues a stay of Jacobson’s ruling, DelVecchio said he’s prepared to officiate at a wedding at 12:01 a.m. Monday.

Beth Asaro and Joanne Schailey — the first same-sex couple to obtain a civil union, in 2006, will be the first to be married, DelVecchio said. Other couples in civil unions will also be married, he said.

"We, who did the first civil union … will be the first in the state," he said.

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), one of the sponsors of the unsuccessful same-sex marriage legislation, called the registrar’s e-mail "incredibly offensive," and lacking "legal reasoning."

Star-Ledger staff writer MaryAnn Spoto contributed to this report.

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