Despite an ongoing challenge, a gay-inclusive domestic partner law starts Monday in Wisconsin.

Officials say that after a month of training, county clerks are prepared to handle large crowds if necessary.

“It's another normal work day and we will take it as it appears and handle the situation,” Nancy Christensen, an Outagamie County clerk, told ABC affiliate WBAY. “Just give us patience if you have to wait in line and we'll process everybody through.”

Governor Jim Doyle, a Democrat, proposed the registry in his biannual state budget approved by lawmakers. Registering gives gay and lesbian couples access to 43 rights, most of which center around estate planning and hospital visitation issues.

The group Wisconsin Family Action (WFA) and the Christian-based Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) are challenging the registry, arguing that is it prohibited by the state's constitutional ban on gay marriage approved by voters in 2006. WFA supported the passage of the anti-gay marriage amendment as the Family Research Institute.

“Elected officials should never pass laws that violate the will of Wisconsin voters who legitimately amend the state constitution in a fair election,” Julaine Appling, president of WFA and lead petitioner in the lawsuit, said in a statement. “This new domestic partnership scheme is a sneaky assault on marriage from those who are determined to redefine marriage in Wisconsin.”

The groups asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to issue a permanent injunction against the registry last week but the court has yet to respond.

Governor Doyle has defended the registry, saying the law does not run afoul of the state constitution, and indicated that he thinks Appling and her group have been deceptive in their public statements.

“The lawyers have all assure me that this is not a marriage, but I think most people agree that its a statement of some basic rights that most people in Wisconsin think should be protected,” he told Wisconsin Radio Network.

“These are people, who by the way, when the Wisconsin constitutional amendment was passed made repeated public statements saying that this would not preclude domestic partnership legislation. So now, apparently, they're singing a different tune.”