Thursday, October 20, 2011 Vaughn-Martel Law's Jessica M. Walsh Invited to Sit on Human Rights & Sex Trafficking Film Forum Committee
Attorney Jessica Walsh has been invited to sit on the Boston Initiative to Advance Human Rights’ (BITAHR) 2012 Human Rights & Sex Trafficking Film Forum Committee. BITAHR launched Human Rights and Sex Trafficking: A Film Forum in 2010 to explore the use of film as an effective way to raise awareness and trigger action in combating commercial sexual exploitation of girls and women. The Forum considers the role of film in advancing women’s human rights and the many governmental and non-governmental organizations' efforts to combat sex trafficking. Jessica is honored to have the opportunity to be part of such a vital cause. For more information on BITAHR, and the 2012 Human Rights & Sex Trafficking Film Forum (to be held in January, 2012), please visit http://bitahr.org/index.html. To read more about Vaughn-Martel Law, or about Attorney Walsh, visit www.vaughnmartel.com.
Friday, September 16, 2011 Texas Court Ruling a Reminder to Same-Sex Parents: Plan for the Worst
Recent news out of a Texas family court has many people discussing how far this country still needs to go in recognizing the rights of same-sex couples and same-sex parents, and has Massachusetts lawyers reminding themselves that their clients are better off safe than sorry.
As reported by the Advocate, a heterosexual couple in the state of Texas divorced after having three children. The mother was awarded custody of the children. The father, William Flowers, eventually re-married Jim Evans, a man, in Connecticut, and they traveled back to Texas to live.
After the father’s re-marriage, he attempted to obtain custody of his children in a Texas family court. Texas bans the recognition of same-sex relationships, including Flowers’s Connecticut marriage to Evans. The Judge, on top of denying the father custody, ordered that the father could never leave his children with any man who isn’t part of the family without Mother’s permission. The Judge eventually changed the wording to read “any person not related to the children”, but this superficial change did nothing to assuage the GBLT media, GBLT activist groups, and lawyers all over the country. It especially did nothing to ease the pain and indignity felt by Flowers, Evans, and their family.
This story out of Texas is a harsh warning to gay and lesbian families in states, including Massachusetts, that recognize same-sex marriage and same-sex parenting rights. It is also a reminder to attorneys of the critical importance of making sure clients put in place all possible safeguards in order to protect their families.
Same-sex families in Massachusetts need to take every legal step available to protect their marriage and their children, so that in the event that they, their spouse, their property, or a loved one ends up within the jurisdiction of a hostile state like Texas, their relationships and property will be protected.
Important legal protections available to same-sex couples (and opposite-sex couples) include preparing a comprehensive estate plan, with property and healthcare directives, preparing domestic partnership or property ownership agreements, preparing co-parenting agreements, and petitioning for a decree of adoption of their spouse or partner’s children, among others.
The current non-uniformity of patchwork state laws concerning the recognition of same-sex relationships and families makes it all the more important for gay and lesbian families to start a relationship with a GLBTQ family practitioner and take full advantage of the legal protections offered to them. While it is infuriating and unjust that same-sex couples must endure the cost and complexity of additional planning to protect their families, it is better to be safe than sorry. Friday, September 09, 2011 Vaughn-Martel Law Introduces "ClientConnect" Online Client Case Management Portal
We are pleased to introduce an exciting new way for clients to view important case documents, court notices and filings, and billing information in their case at any time from any computer. We are offering the service absolutely free of charge to all our clients.
Now, clients can send secure communications, share documents, and review and pay bills with a credit card on-line, all from their own personalized case management portal. “ClientConnect” allows our clients to have real time access to their own case files and invoices, and all information is safeguarded using SSL encryption to ensure the privacy and security of attorney-client communications.
Visit vaughnmartel.wordpress.com to read more and explore our blog!
Wednesday, August 03, 2011 Announcing a New Legal Blog for Vaughn-Martel Law
Welcome to the legal blog for Vaughn-Martel Law, a premier Boston law firm serving a diverse community throughout Massachusetts. Check back often for legal news, discussion, and analysis in family law, estate planning, and general civil litigation issues here in Massachusetts.
Visit vaughnmartel.wordpress.com to read more and explore our blog! |