Dormont Family Law
Pennsylvania Child Custody Lawyers
Question: My ex has filed a child custody action against me. What should I do?
Answer: You should speak to an experienced child custody attorney. At Spivak Law Firm, we provide strong, compassionate representation in all child custody matters. We carefully explain the process, describe your options, and propose legal strategies based on your goals and the unique facts of your case. We are skilled negotiators and experienced trial lawyers who fight for you to achieve the best possible outcome.
To schedule a consultation with an experienced child custody attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Parental Alienation Signs
Parental alienation occurs when one parent psychologically manipulates the child, causing the child to withdraw from the other parent.
Some common symptoms of parental alienation include, but are not limited to:
- Your child refuses to have contact with you;
- Your child is hostile toward you without logical reason (no history of abuse);
- Your child is hostile toward your extended family; and
- Your child expresses only negative feelings toward you, but never toward the other parent.
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.
Child Custody and Emotional Abuse
Ending a physically or emotionally abusive relationship doesn’t always end the abuse, especially when children are involved. You still have to see your ex-spouse to arrange for custody exchanges, holidays, etc.
If your ex-spouse continues to engage in controlling or manipulative behavior, consider limiting your communications to text or email. This can both reduce the level of conflict between the two of you, and allow you to document evidence of your ex’s inability to work together.
To speak with an experienced child custody attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Follow Your Custody Order
If you have a custody order, follow it. Pennsylvania courts determine custody by looking to the best interests of the children, which is based upon 16 factors. One of the factors asks which parent is more likely to permit and continue frequent contact between the children and the other parent.
If you do not abide by the terms of the existing order, you may be adversely affecting your case. You may also subject yourself to contempt proceedings, which can involve fines and even jail time. Unless you have safety concerns for your children, you should abide by the terms of your custody order.
Spivak Law Firm handles all family law matters, including: divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, and PFAs. To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
5 Child Custody Don’ts
If your child exhibits temper tantrums, you may believe that they are not capable of feeling complex emotions. But children are more perceptive than you may realize. They are able to pick up on your emotions and the things that you say, so it is imperative to filter what is said to them and in front of them.
To avoid upsetting your children, here are five things you should not do during a divorce or custody dispute:
- Do not directly or indirectly encourage your children to choose between you and your ex-spouse;
- Do not speak ill of your ex-spouse in front of the children;
- Do not prevent your children from spending time with your ex-spouse;
- Do not ask your children to pass messages to your ex-spouse;
- Do not disclose details of your legal matters to the children.
Spivak Law Firm handles all family law matters, including: divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, and PFAs. To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Don’t Let A PFA Ruin Your Life
A PFA is a court order that aims to protect victims of domestic violence. A PFA can:
- Restrict you from contacting the accuser;
- Evict you from your home;
- Award the accuser temporary custody of your children;
- Require you to pay child support; and
- Send you to jail if you are even accused of violating it.
Don’t make the mistake of blindly accepting a PFA. The consequences of a PFA are harsh and long-lasting, as a PFA can remain in effect for up to three years.
Spivak Law Firm provides aggressive representation for plaintiffs and defendants in domestic violence cases, including Protection From Abuse (PFA), Children Youth and Families (CYF), and criminal domestic violence. To schedule a free consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Child Custody: Nesting
Divorce is a difficult process and the children of divorced parents often find themselves caught up in a situation over which they have little control.
They also have to contend with the idea that their everyday lives will change, whether that is not seeing one of their parents on a daily basis or moving to a different house or location.
Nesting is a new idea in the arena of child-custody arrangements. The children stay in the home while the parents are the ones who leave and return. This allows the children to stay in the home and provides the children with a feeling of permanence. This sense of routine can be helpful to the children at a time of change and turbulence.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law, including: child custody, child support, divorce, spousal support, and Protection From Abuse (PFA). To speak with an experienced child-custody attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
NFL and Domestic Abuse
An advocacy group is urging the Cincinnati Bengals to speak out against domestic violence after the team drafted a player who punched a woman in the face.
The Bengals are not the only team receiving backlash. In the 2017 NFL Draft, at least a half-dozen players who have been accused of physical or sexual assaults were welcomed to the NFL.
By ignoring these issues, the NFL encourages the cycle of violence and undermines the importance of protecting domestic-abuse victims, according to the group.
Spivak Law Firm helps victims of domestic violence get the legal protections they need at Protection From Abuse (PFA) hearings and by working with prosecutors on criminal domestic-violence cases. To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 ortoll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA Consequences
Because courts overwhelmingly grant Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders, the system itself is frequently abused by people seeking leverage in divorce and child-custody actions.
In fact, the mere accusation of abuse can devastate a person’s life and reputation.
In Pennsylvania, a PFA can:
- Evict you from your home;
- Take away your firearms;
- Appear on your permanent record;
- Prevent you from seeing your children; and
- Result in serious criminal charges.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive defense at PFA hearings. We have successfully defended many people whose careers were at risk, including; police officers, corrections officers, homeland-security officers, teachers, and nurses.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law and criminal defense 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.
Penalties for Failing to Appear in Court
If you’ve been sued for child custody, you must attend all scheduled court appearances. The following are potential consequences for failing to appear:
- The court may hold you in contempt for violation of a court order;
- The court may dismiss your case;
- The court may rule in favor of the other party.
Custody litigation is often time-consuming and stressful. Spivak Law Firm understands that many parents have busy work schedules that do not allow them to appear in court. There are some court appearances that your attorney may be able to attend on your behalf.
Spivak Law Firm handles all family law matters, including: divorce, child custody child support, spousal support, and PFAs. To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.