CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – The state office that oversees marriage licenses and other vital records says civil union licenses will be available at city and town clerk offices throughout New Hampshire by the first week of December.

With civil unions becoming legal Jan. 1, many gay and lesbian couples have been eager to start planning their ceremonies but have been worried about whether the licenses would be available in time for New Year’s Day. Mo Baxley, director for the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition, said people have been calling her office daily with questions about getting a license.

“People are having a hard time planning,” she said. “They want to rent halls and plan.”

Innkeeper Grace Newman of the Highlands Inn in Bethlehem said she has been hesitant to book couples for ceremonies because she’s been unable to get assurances from local officials that the licenses will be available.

“I even tried the Manchester city clerk’s office, figuring they’d know more because they are a city, but they couldn’t explain it either,” said Newman.

Some clerks have said the licenses won’t be available until Jan. 2 since Jan. 1 is a holiday. But David Scanlan, deputy secretary of state, said that isn’t true.

He said the new license has been created but the state is still fine tuning the software that will allow clerks to access the state’s computer system. He said he doesn’t expect town or city clerks to have any trouble handling the new licenses because the process mirrors the one used to grant marriage licenses. Same-sex couples will have to provide the same information and pay the same $45 fee.

Once issued, a civil union license will be good for 90 days.