Monthly Archives: August 2015

What Can I Ask For In A PFA?

Posted on August 31 2015 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

In a Protection From Abuse (PFA) petition, you can ask the judge to:

Order the abuser to stop threatening, abusing, harassing or stalking you and your children
Have the abuser evicted from your joint home or excluded from your residence
Keep your new address or location confidential
Grant you temporary custody of your children
Grant you temporary child or spousal support as well as other reimbursements of out-of-pocket expenses that were caused by the abuser
Order the abuser not to have contact with you or your children, or family members
Restrict the abuser from contacting you at school or work
Order the abuser to turn over firearms to the sheriff
Order any other appropriate relief, for instance, requesting the return of your pet, car keys, important papers, etc.

To speak with an experienced PFA attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

The Needs and Rights of Children

Posted on August 30 2015 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Ideally children should be parented cooperatively. They should be permitted and encouraged to form the best possible relationship with both parents and develop health connections with the families of both parents as well. If children feel safe and secure in their primary relationships, they are likely to be successful, happy, and well-adjusted. The goal is to establish a base from which children can continue their uninterrupted healthy growth patterns.

Every child has the right to:

Develop a relationship with both parents
Exist in a world free of parent-driven conflict
Go back and forth to visit freely between both parents
Spend time and engage in activities with both parents
Have a comfortable and safe space in both homes
Expect consistent behavior from both parents
Have the major issues (medical, legal, educational) shared with both parents
Not ever be put in a position to choose between their parents
Sometimes make their own choices and to be heard
Be a child

To speak with an experienced child custody attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

A Parent’s Responsibilities

Posted on August 23 2015 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Every parent has the responsibility to:

Engage in the best possible cooperative parenting partnership
Encourage and promote their children’s relationship with the other parent
Make and keep appropriate custody and visitation schedules
Develop their own parenting style and not deliberately interfere with the other parent’s parenting
Provide private and comfortable space for their children in their home
Provide good, safe, and appropriate child-care when parents cannot be available
Communicate with the other parent about legal, educational, medical, and financial needs
Support their children’s participation in educational or extra-curricular and community activities

Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate representation in all child custody matters. To speak with an experienced family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Strong Defense at PFA Hearings

Posted on August 17 2015 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Attending a Protection From Abuse (PFA) hearing without an experienced attorney often proves disastrous for defendants. A PFA is a powerful tool that can evict you from your home, restrict your child-custody rights, and lead to your arrest based on a mere allegation of violating it.

In Pittsburgh and most surrounding counties, “victims” of domestic violence and child abuse get a “free” lawyer to help them obtain PFA orders.

But PFA defendants do not get a free lawyer. Many PFA defendants wrongly believe that they are entitled to a public defender. But a PFA is not a criminal matter, so public defenders generally cannot get involved.

A Final PFA Order will stay on your record for the rest of your life. It is a public record that may cause embarrassment, tarnish your reputation, and hurt your job opportunities.

Spivak Law Firm aims to provide the strongest possible defense at PFA hearings in Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Indiana County, Washington County, and Westmoreland County.

To speak with an experienced PFA defense attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Listening To Your Child

Posted on August 10 2015 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Children want to talk. Children need to talk, and they also need someone to listen to them.

Think about how you might feel if you wanted to tell something to somebody and you could not find anyone to tell. Children must be able to express themselves freely and comfortably.

As adults, we can provide children with the security of listening to whatever they need to say. Be careful to respect something said in confidence if your child asks you to keep it just between the two of you.

If there are not good “listening times” available during your schedule, try to set aside some “special time” to just talk to your child on a regular, consistent basis.

There is a distinct difference between listening to your children and pumping them for information about the other parent. Enter their world and listen to what they need to talk about as children.

To speak with an experienced child custody attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.