Carol Gapen and Lynn Bodi will be speaking about creating families through surrogacy. To find out more, go to www.perinatalweb.org/.

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/

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

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.

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 Children & Families 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.

Sara has long been a strong advocate for children. Before attending law school, she was a caseworker for the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare. As an attorney, Sara has helped many families involved in the child welfare system, as well as those with delinquency and school law issues. In all cases, Sara seeks creative solutions that work for families and protect children’s rights. Sara is a member of the Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin and she believes a team approach to family law is a very effective way to meet the unique needs of each family member involved.

Education

Sara graduated with distinction from UW-Madison with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies & Psychology.

She earned her law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School where she was awarded the Bruce F. Beilfuss Award for Outstanding Service to the Law School, and the Pro Bono Partnership Award/Pro Bono Publico Award.

While in law school Sara was a leader in the Children’s Justice Project. She was also active in the Wisconsin Journal of Law, Gender & Society, and Law Students for Reproductive Justice. She interned for the Honorable David Flanagan, Dane County Circuit Court, and was a student attorney with both the Rock County Public Defender’s Office and the Family Law & Restorative Justice Project of the Frank J. Remington Center.

Personal

Sara is the captain of her co-ed kickball team and participates in various charity road races. She is proud to have completed a Madison Marathon. To say she enjoys running would be a stretch, but she does it anyway. Sara and her husband, Travis, enjoy traveling, but they also spend time working on their new home and hanging out with their cats, Monkey and George.

Areas of Practice

Adoption
Advanced reproductive technology
Child custody, placement and support
Divorce and Collaborative  Divorce
Guardianship
Grandparents’ rights
Foster parents’ rights
Juvenile delinquency
LGBT issues
Paternity
School law