Introduction

• Author: Kendra Huard Fershee
• Position: Editor in Chief, Family Law Quarterly, kendrafershee@creighton.edu
• Pages: ix-x

ix

Introduction

The UPA and UNCVA: An Analysis of

Recent Updates

In this issue, Family Law Quarterly is replaying some of its greatest

hits (updated)! We are pleased to have four esteemed authors share their

commentary on two important uniform acts that have been revised in

the recent past. First, Professor Courtney Joslin has written a detailed

breakdown of the 2017 revisions to the Uniform Parentage Act (UPA),

which is richly informed by her role as the Reporter for this update to

the UPA. Her birds-eye view of the formation of the current changes

is invaluable to understanding how those changes might work and be

implemented in states that, for example, are languishing under antiquated

statutes that do not address the parentage issues that have arisen after the

constitutional recognition of same-sex marriage.

A helpful analysis of the proposed changes by Richard Vaughan, a

prominent attorney whose practice revolves around assisted reproductive

technology (ART) and who is the chair of the ART Committee of the ABA

Family Law Section. Mr. Vaughan’s take is informed by his years of work

in this area and raises some important concerns about how the updated

UPA might affect lawyers and judges who work in the area of ART.

Also in this issue, Jeff Atkinson and Barbara Atwood have written

about their thoughts on the updates to the Uniform Nonparent Custody

and Visitation Act (UNCVA) and how it might affect states considering

adopting it. Professor Atkinson was the Reporter for the Act, and Professor

Atwood served as the vice-chair of the Drafting Committee for the UNCVA.

They walk readers through the history, scope, presumptions, jurisdiction,

procedure, effects, and cost of the Act. This invaluable breakdown will



in which they have an impact on the future of family law.

Published in Family Law Quarterly, Volume 52, Number 3, Fall 2018. © 2019 American Bar Association. Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. This information or any portion thereof

may not be copied or disseminated in any form or by any means or stored in an electronic database or retrieval system without the express written consent of the American Bar Association.