Dormont Divorce Lawyer
Preparing for Divorce
If you are considering a divorce, it is important to have an understanding of your finances before initiating the proceedings.
Without this information, your attorney may have to engage in a costly discovery process to obtain the documents. Having copies of tax returns, utility bills, grocery bills, retirement accounts, bank accounts, and other financial documents could save you a substantial amount of money in attorney’s fees.
Take the time to review your financial documents and understand your marital assets and debts with the help of your attorney.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law, including: divorce, child custody, child support, and PFA hearings. To speak with an experienced family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Divorce: Who Gets The House?
Will I lose the house in the divorce if I move out?
Under Pennsylvania law, the marital residence is subject to division if it is considered marital property, which is defined as property acquired during the marriage and before final separation.
If your ex moves out at separation, you likely stand a better chance of staying in the home; however, you may later have to pay your ex a share of the home’s equity value.
Keep in mind that even if you acquired the house before marriage, your ex will share in any increases or decreases in the value of the property.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law, including: divorce, child custody, child support, and PFA hearings. To speak with an experienced family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Dividing Marital Property
Under Pennsylvania divorce law, marital property is divided through a process known as equitable distribution. Marital property includes property acquired during the marriage, such as: houses, cars, retirement accounts, jewelry, artwork, etc.
To save significant time, stress, and money, you may bypass the formal equitable distribution process by reaching agreement on the distribution of marital assets through a written Marriage Settlement Agreement.
Spivak Law Firm handles divorce, equitable distribution trials, and the drafting of Marriage Settlement Agreements. Call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Divorce May Result in Multiple Trials
In Allegheny County, every aspect of a divorce is handled separately through the courts.
A divorce commonly includes the following issues: child custody, child support, spousal support, dividing marital assets and debts, and the divorce itself.
There is not just one trial that resolves all these issues.
Instead, each issue is placed on a separate trial track. This means you may face multiple trials or hearings: one to address child support, another to resolve child custody, and still another to determine how to divide assets and debts.
Spivak Law Firm handles all family law matters, including: divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, and Protection From Abuse (PFA). Call us today at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Domestic Violence Warning Signs
Domestic violence experts increasingly aim to identify “red flags” that often precede homicides and murder-suicides where abuse is present.
Warning signs include: strangulation, stalking behavior, sexual violence, gun possession, unemployment, substance abuse, and prior attempts by the victim to end the relationship.
Previous abuse by the suspect is the strongest of these “red flags,” according to experts.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law with a special focus on domestic violence and Protection From Abuse (PFA). Call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Dating After Divorce
Dating after divorce may be difficult, especially when children are involved. You must adjust to the idea of no longer being married, and your children must do the same. Ensure that your children have had adequate time to recover from the divorce before introducing them to a new partner.
When sufficient time has passed, it may be best to introduce the children to your new partner while doing an activity the kids enjoy.
But be sensitive to your children’s feelings. If you believe your children are struggling more than is reasonable, it may be beneficial to seek help from a counselor.
To speak with an experienced family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Limit Stress In Divorce
Divorce can be one of the most stressful times in a person’s life. You may take comfort in the fact that family and friends have taken your side in the matter, but this may create conflict. What appears to be emotional support may actually be encouragement to fight and argue.
It is best to enter negotiations, or even litigation, with a level head in order to avoid making rash decisions that are not necessarily in your best interest. If you (or someone close to you) are in the process of divorce, lend support. But avoid causing conflict.
To speak with an experienced divorce attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Tips For Child Custody Hearings
In a child custody hearing, you may think that the judge’s main focus in the courtroom is on the lawyers. But the judge is mindful of all parties involved and pays close attention to the parents’ body language and demeanor.
When you are in court, pay attention and remain calm. If the other parent says something disagreeable, avoid shaking your head, rolling your eyes, sighing, or squirming in your chair. One of the sixteen custody factors considered by the judge is the level of conflict between the parties. Negative body language may lead the judge to believe that you and your ex-spouse are unable to effectively co-parent in the best interests of your children.
To speak with an experienced family law attorney, contact Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Parenting Plans for Teens
Teenage children are often more adaptable to custody schedules because they can better balance differences in household routines. As long as the parenting plan allows the children to see both parents on a frequent and continued basis, the schedule can be flexible. When making a parenting plan for your teenagers, consider the following:
- Permit the children to call the other parent in privacy;
- Respect the well-reasoned preferences of the children;
- Accommodate the children’s school activities and extracurricular activities;
- Consider the social needs of the children.
To speak with an Allegheny County child custody attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
How A PFA Affects Your Divorce
When you initiate a divorce, it is important to keep your emotions in check. Divorce can be emotionally draining, but the playing field may quickly uneven when one party obtains a Temporary Protection from Abuse (PFA) Order.
Avoid any form of contact that could be construed as abusive, which includes shouting matches with your ex. Your ex could file a PFA against you after a verbal argument claiming that she fears you.
The PFA can evict you from your home, restrict your child custody rights, require you to pay support, and order you to continue contributing to marital home expenses.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law, including: divorce, child custody, child support, and PFA hearings. To speak with an experienced family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.