Who We Are
We’re Wynnie and Kenneth, two remote team members at ALH Law Group who get to see firsthand how the law can change people’s lives in ways that aren’t even possible in our own countries. Kenneth is our Client Experience Coordinator from Nicaragua — he makes sure every client’s journey with us feels smooth, clear, and human (and when he’s not doing that, he’s running or hiking. Wynnie is our Tech Whisperer & Chief Client Communicator from The Philippines — she keeps clients connected and uses tech to make everything seamless (and outside of work, she’s usually food-hopping with her partner, wrangling her dog Cow, or sipping coffee at the beach).
Life at ALH vs. Life Back Home
Wynnie: At ALH, we help clients every day with things that literally change lives — gender marker changes, same-sex estate planning, business protections, the works. Meanwhile, back in the Philippines, we can’t even legally change our gender marker. Like, at all. Imagine handing your ID to the airport counter and watching the agent play “spot the difference” between you and your paperwork. That’s not fun.
Kenneth: And in Nicaragua? Same boat. No gender marker changes, no same-sex marriage, and inheritance rules that basically say, “If you’re not married or directly related, you don’t exist.” And yet here I am, helping clients in Ohio lock in protections my own community back home can only dream about. Wild, right?
Gender Marker Changes
Wynnie: In the Philippines, changing your gender marker is about as real as unicorns. It’s just not legally possible. Which means trans folks are stuck with IDs that don’t reflect them, making every doctor’s visit or border crossing feel like a courtroom cross-exam.
Kenneth: Nicaragua isn’t any better. If your documents don’t match your identity, the law shrugs and says, “Good luck.”
Allison: Here in Ohio, we can petition for gender marker changes in some counties. It’s not always smooth sailing, but it’s possible. And honestly, the look on a client’s face when their legal documents finally match who they are? Worth every bit of the paperwork and possibly the most rewarding thing we get to do as a lawyer! .
Marriage & Estate Planning
Wynnie: Same-sex marriage in the Philippines? Nope. Straight couples, though, get options: a wife can take her husband’s last name, hyphenate it, or just keep her maiden. Yay for choice — if you’re straight. But you'd better be sure, because we don’t recognize divorce!
Kenneth: In Nicaragua, women don’t change their names after marriage. Not because the law bans it, but because… why would they? Their names are theirs, thank you very much.
Wynnie: So yeah, in the Philippines, it’s like Build-a-Bear with your last name — as long as you’re heterosexual.
Kenneth: When I was younger, I once asked my mom when she was going to change her last name to my dad’s… she almost staged an intervention on the spot.
Allison:In Ohio, estate planning lets us go beyond names. We make sure couples — including same-sex couples — have wills, trusts, and healthcare directives so they’re legally protected, no matter what the law or the courts try to say.
Business Law
Wynnie: Starting a business in the Philippines requires Olympic-level patience. The red tape? Immaculate. That’s why so many small businesses just skip contracts — enforcing them is a marathon in a swamp.
Kenneth: In Nicaragua, most small businesses actually go the formal route - certifications, paperwork, all by the book. But there are always a few that don’t. It’s mostly official… with a sprinkle of “let’s just wing it.”
Allison: Here, we get to help people form LLCs, draft contracts, and actually enforce them. And trust me — having a contract that holds up in court beats family drama every time.
Probate & Inheritance
Wynnie: In the Philippines, inheritance law is all about “legitimate” heirs. Unmarried partners? Same-sex partners? Completely invisible. Which means if your partner dies, congratulations — their family, who may have never accepted you, gets everything.
Kenneth: In Nicaragua, children outrank everyone. Even spouses don’t automatically inherit the whole estate. Probate is basically a family feud without Steve Harvey.
Allison: Here in Ohio, probate can still be messy, but planning ahead can help us navigate it more smoothly. Estate planning gives people control so their assets go where they want, not where the state says they should.
A Quick Disclaimer Before We Go On
Wynnie: We want to be clear — when we talk about how our countries don’t have marriage equality, gender marker changes, or reproductive rights, we’re not saying this because we think Americans “have it better.” Far from it.
Kenneth: Exactly. It’s terrifying for us, too, to even think that Obergefell v. Hodges (marriage equality) or Roe v. Wade (abortion rights) could be overturned. When those protections shake in the U.S., it feels like the ground shifts under all of us.
Wynnie: So this isn’t a competition of “who has it worse.” It’s more like: we see your fear, we live in it every day, and the idea that the U.S. could join us in that reality? That’s the scariest part.
When U.S. Rulings Shake the World
Wynnie: When Obergefell and Roe come under attack in the U.S., it doesn’t just stop at the borders. We feel the ripples in the Philippines. Even though same-sex marriage and abortion are already banned here, those rulings were symbols of hope. If the U.S. — the “land of freedom” — can backslide, what chance do we have?
Kenneth: Same for Nicaragua. We already live without reproductive rights and marriage equality. When the U.S. chips away at those protections, it emboldens leaders here to double down. For us, Obergefell and Roe weren’t just American cases — they were proof that progress was possible. Losing them feels personal.
Allison: And that’s why we take the work so seriously. We sympathize deeply with people here in the U.S. who are scared of losing rights they fought hard for. But for Wynnie and Kenneth, that fear is a daily reality. No marriage equality. No gender marker changes. No reproductive freedom. Every estate plan, every petition, every client win is our way of building legal shields when the bigger systems fail.
Life vs. Work
Wynnie: Here’s the kicker: every day at ALH, I help clients get rights I don’t have in my own country. It’s surreal.
Kenneth: Same. It feels like we’re part of a team handing out umbrellas in a storm… while we’re still standing outside getting drenched. But that’s exactly why we love this work — because we know firsthand how much it matters.
Closing Note
At ALH Law Group, we’re not just filling out paperwork—we’re building legal protections that many around the world can only dream of.
For us, that perspective adds power and purpose to every client success. Helping you safeguard your rights, your relationships, and your legacy is what fuels our work—because we know what’s at stake. Ready to take control of your future? Contact us today to start building a plan that protects what matters most.
