PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT:
Thomas Solberg
State Bar of Wisconsin
(608) 250-6025
(608) 630-0432 (cell)
(800) 444-9404 ext. 6025
tsolberg@wisbar.org
Children and the Law Section welcomes new law offering
parental delegation option
November 29, 2011 — The State Bar of Wisconsin’s Children and the
Law Section has thanked state Representative Dale Kooyenga, Senator
Terry Moulton and Governor Scott Walker for their successful efforts to
enact a law that gives Wisconsin parents new options in caring for their
children.
2011 AB 30, signed into law as Act 87
in Racine last week, creates a uniform, legal mechanism parents can use
to temporarily delegate legal decision-making and care-taking
responsibilities for their children to another responsible, competent
adult.
"This new law allows a parent, with specific limitations, to draft a
Power of Attorney (POA) document delegating full or partial parental
authority to a third person without court or social services involvement
for a limited time period while maintaining full control over the
arrangement," explains Section Chair Anita Cruise.
She adds that children often reside with other adults for limited
periods of time because of a parent’s active military duty, medical,
emotional or addiction issues, or other parental responsibilities.
Additionally, a child may have a special educational or intensive sports
training opportunities that require different living arrangements.
"This legislation expands the legal tools available to parents who need
assistance in caring for their children," notes Cruise. "Previously, a
parent who needed parenting assistance had limited options."
The State Bar of Wisconsin maintains 26 sections composed of members
who voluntarily enroll because of their shared interest in a particular
field of law. Section positions on relevant public policy issues are
taken on behalf of the section only, independent of the association’s
Board of Governors. In doing so, these sections represent the views of
their members and do not speak for the State Bar as a whole.
The State Bar of Wisconsin is the mandatory professional
association, created by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, for attorneys who
hold a Wisconsin law license. With more than 24,000 members, the State
Bar aids the courts in improving the administration of justice, provides
continuing legal education for its members to help them maintain their
expertise, and assists Wisconsin lawyers in carrying out community
service initiatives to educate the public about the legal system and the
value of lawyers. For more information, visit www.wisbar.org.
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