Our Story

Trans Law Help Wisconsin, Inc. began with a single Facebook post.

In the days following the 2016 presidential election, Madison attorney Abby posted that she was available to answer general legal questions from transgender community members, particularly about the legal name and gender marker change process. The post was shared widely, and soon she was receiving messages, emails, and phone calls from transgender people across Wisconsin and around the country seeking legal information and support.

Recognizing the growing need, Abby joined with a group of LGBTQ+ legal and community professionals to explore how they could better serve the transgender community. Together, they created a legal clinic called Trans Law Help Wisconsin to provide accessible legal information and assistance. From 2018 through 2024, Trans Law Help Wisconsin operated as a community project under Abby's leadership, with the support of two Wisconsin nonprofit organizations—Community Justice Inc. and FORGE—which served as our fiscal sponsors.

As our work expanded, so did our vision. In 2024, our Board of Directors voted to establish Trans Law Help Wisconsin as an independent nonprofit organization. Today, Trans Law Help Wisconsin, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to offering trusted legal information on name and sex marker changes in Wisconsin and to reduce individual barriers to affirmed identity.

We’ve come a long way but we’re always interested in how we can make our work better. If you have concerns, complaints, or feedback about our services or priorities, please reach out to us using the form below: