On August 4, 2010, in a case called Perry v. Schwarzenegger, Judge Vaughn Walker of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California declared Proposition 8 unconstitutional. What does the decision say and mean?

Read a summary of the Prop 8 decision or the court decision in its entirety.

November 7-9, 2011
Judicial Conference Lake Geneva
Emily Dudak Taylor will be speaking on children’s immigration issues with Judge Ramirez of Milwaukee County.

September 8, 2011 LGBT Family Law Institute in Los Angeles

Emily Dudak Taylor and Judith Sperling-Newton will be speaking on the International Panel on LGBT Issues at this year’s institute. The institute is a joint venture of the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the National LGBT Bar Association, and allows experienced LGBT attorneys from across the country to meet annually to share their collective wisdom and to discuss cutting-edge legal solutions for LGBT families.”

April 11, 2011, UW Law School’s Public Interests Law Foundation
Emily Dudak Taylor will be part of a panel of attorneys who practice in children’s rights and guardian ad litem capacities. The panel will be sharing their experiences and advice with law students.

December 7, 2010, Tax Planning for Gay and Lesbian Couples with Children.
The Law Center for Children & Families and Wegner CPAs and Consultants will be  discussing estate planning and income tax considerations for LGBT couples with children. 5:30-7:30 at Wegner Office, 2110 Luann Lane in Madison.

September 17-19, 2010, European Conference on LGBT Families.
Attorney Lynn Bodi will be attending  this conference in Paris, France.

September 15-17, 2010 Juvenile Law Seminar
Emily Dudak Taylor will be discussing immigrant children in the dependency system on Thursday, September 16, 2010.

June 11-13, 2010, Pridefest Milwaukee
Emily Dudak Taylor will be participating in a discussion about growing your family called “candid conversations” on Sunday, 4:30 – 6:00 near the youth stage. The Law Center for Children & Families will be exhibiting all weekend long.

May 13, 2010 LGBT Adoption
Emily Dudak Taylor will be in Green Bay to speak to Positive Voice, a Northeast Wisconsin LGBT organization. For more information, visit www.focol.org/positive

May 1, 2010  Addressing the State of our Unions
This community forum and seminar for the LGBT community will be held at the US Bank Building in Madison. Attorney Emily Dudak Taylor will be presenting Building your Family and Protecting your Children in Wisconsin. Other important topics will be addressed. For more information, go to http://ourunions.eventbrite.com/

April 19, 2010 Annual Statewide Perinatal ConferenceCarol Gapen and Lynn Bodi will be speaking about creating families through surrogacy. To find out more, go to www.perinatalweb.org.

All About Collaborative Divorce December 2009

What is a domestic partnership?
It is a legal status for you and your partner if you register with the State of Wisconsin. It is legal recognition of your commitment to each other. The benefits are limited, however. While the law is a step forward for Wisconsin, it is nothing close to marriage or equality.

The benefits include:

• Limited inheritance rights
• Limited health care rights
• The right to sue for your partner’s wrongful death
• The ability to take time off work to care for your partner under Wisconsin’s Family Medical Leave Act
• The ability to prevent your partner from testifying against you in court
• The ability to better protect attorney-client communications

The benefits do not include:

• Child-related rights
• Marital property rights
• Mutual support rights
• State and federal tax rights
• Federal and out-of-state rights in general

Do we still need a life and estate plan?
Yes. A thorough LGBT-specific life and estate plan goes well beyond the rights conveyed by the new law. Furthermore, a good life and estate plan is much more secure than a domestic partnership registration. The registration is a law, and as such, is subject to politics, legislative revision, and court challenges. Finally, federal law and most other states will not recognize a Wisconsin domestic partnership. Therefore, life and estate planning documents will continue to be essential to protecting your family out-of-state.

Should we register as domestic partners?
For most families, registering is a good idea. However, there are some families for whom a domestic partnership could have unintended consequences. It could affect gift tax liability, eligibility for public assistance, and the content and validity of current wills and property titles. This is especially true for couples who own real estate together. You should speak with an LGBT estate planning attorney before registering. Know what you are doing, before you do it, as unromantic as that sounds.

How do we register as domestic partners?
First, you and your partner must satisfy five requirements: (1) you must be 18; (2) you must be a same-sex couple; (3) you must live together; (4) you must be unrelated; and (5) you must be unmarried and not in another domestic partnership.

If you and your partner are eligible and decide to register, you may go to the Clerk of Courts Office in your county and file a state form (an “affidavit”). The first day to register is August 3, 2009. If you have been previously married or registered as a domestic partner, you will need to take additional steps before registering. Be sure to ask for a copy of your affidavit and registration for your records. If you register before speaking to an attorney, be sure to inform your attorney of your registration. You may need to update your life and estate plan.

For more information, call The Law Center for Property & Life Planning at 821-8200.

The Surrogacy Center
A reputable, safe and professional surrogacy center located in Madison, Wisconsin.
www.surrogacycenter.com

Adoptions of Wisconsin
A private, non-profit agency that offers a full range of adoption services.
www.adoptionsofwisconsin.com

American Academy
of Adoption Attorneys
is a national association of approximately 330 attorneys who practice, or have otherwise distinguished themselves, in the field of adoption law. The Academy’s work includes promoting the reform of adoption laws and disseminating information on ethical adoption practices.

American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys (AAARTA)
AAARTA is a credentialed, professional organization dedicated to the advancement of best legal practices in the area of assisted reproduction and to the protection of the interests of all parties, including the children, involved in assisted reproductive technology matters.

The Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dane County.