News Desk
August, 2010 - Dorothy Phillips recently appeared on ABC News to discuss the process and challenges of obtaining a pre birth order.
August 2010 – Dorothy Phillips quoted in
Philadelphia Magazine article Do Kids Cause Divorce?
A new generation of Philly parents is doing what used to be unthinkable: divorcing when their kids are barely out of diapers. How rising expectations are killing modern marriage
June 2010 – Dorothy Phillips quoted in Philadelphia Gay News article Parenthood is Possible In Spite of Pennsylvania Law
For many couples, second to sharing their lives together, is sharing the experience of parenthood, regardless of whether they are gay or straight.
PHILADELPHIA – January 29, 2010 – SAME-SEX PARTNER BENEFITS APPROVED FOR PA JUDICIARY STAFF
In his State of the Union address Wednesday night, President Obama spoke about his plans to repeal the law that denies gays the right to serve in the military. Perhaps this announcement will have a domino effect for gay rights on the state level. Yesterday it was announced that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court voted to extend medical benefits for domestic partners of gay and lesbian judiciary employees.
Beginning March 1, all of Pennsylvania’s elected judges and judicial staff will be allowed to apply for these newly added benefits, which include medical coverage and limited dental, vision and prescription plans. This move follows legislation by Governor Rendell, who less than a year ago granted same-sex partner benefits to executive branch employees.
According to Justice Seamus P. McCaffery, who was appointed to the state Supreme Court in 2007, shortly after his election he was approached by a group of gay and lesbian judges who explained city workers in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh – even at the lowest level – had access to same-sex partner benefits, but elected judges did not.
“I was struck by the fact that the courts are the institution people are looking to to ensure equal treatment under law,” McCaffery said. When he took the issue to his colleagues, he received unanimous support.
“This is not just about benefits,” said family attorney Dorothy K. Phillips. “It’s a matter of equal rights. This is definitely a step in the right direction.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jamie Joffe
j2 Communications
+610-941-4222
jamie@j2online.com
PHILADELPHIA - January 2010 - SAME-SEX COUPLE GRANTED FULL PARENTING RIGHTS
Domestic attorney Dorothy K. Phillips recently filed a joint petition for pre-birth order on behalf of the biological father of a child conceived via in-vitro fertilization, his life partner, and the gestational surrogate. This petition requests that the biological father and his partner be declared legal parents of the child and that they be listed as such on the birth certificate. This Order is called a Pre-Birth Order (PBO) which completely eliminates any legal rights of the surrogate.
In the legal world, surrogacy is referred to as Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART). The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has recognized ART, which means couples (gay or straight) can have children via surrogacy and still have all the same parental right as parents who conceive traditionally. In Phillips’ latest matter, the biological father and his partner were determined to be the child’s legal parents and the Court issued a Pre-Birth legal Order (PBO) declaring the partners the parents of the child.
Celebrity couple Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick recently utilized a surrogate to carry their twins, putting this complex subject in the spotlight. Alternative conception methods such as in-vitro fertilization and surrogacy are increasingly popular among couples who cannot conceive and among same-sex couples.
Surrogacy includes any method of non-sexual reproduction. The woman who agrees to carry the baby during the pregnancy is known as the gestational carrier (surrogate), and is implanted with a fertilized egg (an egg which has been joined with a donor sperm in-vitro).
There are different types of cases which warrant the use of a surrogate. One example is same-sex couples. In these matters, which are becoming more and more prevalent, one of the partners will donate sperm and the egg will be donated either from a known or anonymous individual. The egg is fertilized in-vitro and the surrogate is simply the vessel unit of birth.
With its recent prevalence in the media, the number of matters involving surrogacy has increased as awareness has exploded via media popularity. Before surrogacy gained attention, same-sex couples had very limited options. The use of a surrogate enables male same sex couples to have children where at least one of them is the biological parent.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jamie Joffe
j2 Communications
+610-941-4222
jamie@j2online.com
January 2010 — Gay and lesbian employees of the Pennsylvania judiciary to receive the same medical benefits
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania voted unanimously for gay and lesbian employees of the Pennsylvania judiciary to receive the same medical benefits as heterosexual employees. This policy will take effect March 1 and includes medical coverage, dental, vision, and prescription plans.
January 2010 — Phillips quoted in Legal Intelligencer Article
Dorothy K. Phillips was recently quoted in regard to the decision in the case M.A.T. v. G.S.T on January 21st, 2010. This case established equal rights for homosexual parents in regard to custody disputes. The Legal Intelligencer article appeared in the January 25, 2010 issue.
September 2009 — DOROTHY K . PHILLIPS TO PRESENT AT STERLING EDUCATION
Dorothy K. Phillips & Associates,
LLC founder and Managing Partner Dorothy K. Phillips is a presenter
at the upcoming Sterling Education Seminar “Divorce After 50”. The
seminar will be held September 15, 2009 at the Holiday Inn Select,
630 Naamans Road, Wilmington, DE.
The CLE program will discuss matters affecting those who divorce as they are approaching their senior years. Those involved in divorce, elder law, family law, financial planning, estate planning, and taxation, need to be aware of the different issues in these situations.
The program will highlight the following areas:
- Ethics
- Guardianship
- Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid
- Estate planning & premarital agreements
- Financial resources-Retirement accounts and Home equity
- Alimony & retirement
“More and more baby boomers are finding themselves dealing with divorce after fifty,” says Phillips, “This important discussion will give participants the direction and guidance needed to handle these complex matters”.
To register, call the Sterling Education Seminars at 715.855.0495 or via web at www.sterlingeducation.com.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jamie Joffe
j2 Communications
+610-941-4222
jamie@j2online.com
August 2009 — Dorothy K. Phillips named as a Top Lawyer by Main Line Today
March 2009 — The ART of Surrogacy
In an Age of Assisted Reproductive Technology
(ART) A Savvy Attorney Is Needed to Navigate
Complex Laws That Vary by State
In today’s
brave new world of assisted reproductive technology (ART), surrogacy
and same-sex parenting, even the definition of “parent” becomes
murky - increasing the need for savvy attorneys with specialized expertise
in this complex area of law.
“The
outcome of an individual surrogacy case can vary wildly depending on which
states are involved,” says Dorothy K. Phillips, a Philadelphia-area attorney
who specializes in surrogacy, custody, paternity and child support law. “There
are so many nuances these days that the attorney has a huge responsibility
to draft an iron-clad surrogacy contract and to educate everyone – from
the biological parents, sperm/egg donors and surrogates to the judges themselves – as
to how the law views specific circumstances.”
read more
February 2009 – DOROTHY
K. PHILLIPS FEATURED IN PHILADELPHIA MAGAZINE COVER STORY: "68
WAYS TO SPEND LESS (AND STILL BE HAPPY)"
Read the article here
However, many people are in the midst of a divorce matter and for others staying
in a toxic relationship is not an option. Attorney Phillips has many ideas on
how to avoid huge legal fees for attorneys and for Court.
Contact
her
January 2009 – DOROTHY K. PHIILIPS FEATURED IN THE JEWISH EXPONENT ARTICLE "My Place or Yours: Divvying up the house in a divorce in a bitter economy." Read the article here.
December 2008 – DOROTHY K. PHIILIPS GIVES HOLIDAY SURVIVAL TIPS IN ARTICLE FOR sheknows.com. Read the article here.
September 2, 2008 — FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY DOROTHY K. PHILLIPS TO PRESENT FAMILY LAW UPDATE IN PENNSYLVANIA AT STERLING EDUCATION SEMINAR
Dorothy K. Phillips & Associates, LLC founder and Managing Partner Dorothy K. Phillips will be featured at the Sterling Education’s seminar “Family Law Update”. The seminar will be held on September 24, 2008 at The Penn’s View Hotel, located at 14 North Front Street in Philadelphia.
The course is a “must attend” for new attorneys, paralegals, CPA’s and Financial Planners who handle divorce cases and is also a refresher course for seasoned attorneys practicing in the areas of family law, general practice and dispute resolution. This comprehensive discussion will provide information on the developments in marital agreements, ethical issues in family law, taxation, bankruptcy and estate planning, all of which have substantial impact on dissolution actions. Phillips will be the presenter on “Marital Agreements” and “Ethical Issues in Family Law Practice.”
This seminar will also offer participants:
- Hot Tips for Family Lawyers
- Tax Considerations in Dissolution Actions
- Effect of Dissolution on Existing Estate Plans
- Bankruptcy and Dissolution Actions
- Marital Agreements
- Joint/Shared Custody Issues and Considerations
- Ethical Issues in Family Law Practice
To register, call the Sterling Education Seminars at 715.855.0495 or via web at www.sterlingeducation.com.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jamie Joffe
j2 Communications
+610-941-4222
jamie@j2online.com
DOROTHY K. PHILLIPS APPEARS ON FOX 29's "GOOD DAY PHILADELPHIA",
July 2008
DOMESTIC
ATTORNEY DOROTHY K. PHILLIPS NAMED AS “SUPER LAWYER” 2008
PHILADELPHIA,
PA – May 2008 - Family Law attorney Dorothy
K. Phillips has been recognized by her peers as one of the best in
the business. Phillips,
a domestic relations attorney with practices in Philadelphia, and Montgomery
County, Pennsylvania as well as in New Jersey has been selected to appear
in “Super
Lawyers 2008” published by American Lawyer Media
and Philadelphia Magazine.
Phillips was chosen by her peers as one of the top domestic attorneys in the area. She was selected from more that 38,000 Pennsylvania attorneys who have been licensed for ten years or more. Lawyers named to the prestigious annual list are voted there by attorneys through a state-wide ballot process conducted by the magazine. Candidates are assessed on a number of factors including experience, awards and community service. Super Lawyers is a comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys, representing a wide range of practice areas, firm sizes and geographic locations. Only 5 percent of the lawyers in each state or region are named Super Lawyers. Law & Politics performs the polling, research and selection of Super Lawyers in a process designed to identify lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.
I am honored to be among this elite group that is recognized by their peers," said Phillips. "Peer recognition is, without a doubt, a gratifying testament to one's success and reputation."
This is the fourth time that Phillips has been named as a Super Lawyer. She was previously honored in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Read
the listing on the Super Lawyers 2008 web site
