Monthly Archives: May 2018

Spivak Law Firm Wins More Awards

Posted on May 26 2018 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

The award-winning Spivak Law Firm received multiple honors this month for providing superior legal services and client satisfaction.

The Pittsburgh-based firm handles all areas of family law and criminal defense with a special focus on Protection from Abuse (PFA) hearings and high-conflict child custody cases.

Our award-winning attorneys have helped hundreds of people accused of physical abuse, harassment, stalking, sexual abuse, child abuse, and other forms of domestic abuse.

In many cases, we get the PFA and related criminal charges dismissed then expunge our client’s records so they can fully move on with their lives.

We handle the following family law cases: divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, Children Youth and Families (CYF), and Protection From Abuse (PFA).

We routinely defend people criminally charged with: domestic violence, driving under the influence (DUI), simple assault, aggravated assault, harassment, recklessly endangering another person, stalking, disorderly conduct, retail theft and various other misdemeanors and summary offenses.

This month, Attorney Todd Spivak was honored again by American Institute of Family Law Attorneys and designated a Super Lawyer.

Attorney Rebecca Canterbury was named a Top 10 Family Law Attorney by Attorney and Practice Magazine and received a 10.0 rating on the Avvo legal directory, where clients routinely sing her praises as a strong, compassionate advocate who gets results.

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

PFA Orders Destroy Reputations

Posted on May 26 2018 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Under Pennsylvania law, anybody can file a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order against a lover or family member accusing them of harassment, physical violence, or other forms of domestic abuse.

In Pittsburgh and surrounding areas, judges grant more than 90 percent of Temporary PFA petitions, leading to a formal hearing within about 10 days.

Many people served with Temporary PFA Orders make the mistake of attending the hearing without an attorney. They often get pressured into signing orders that will hurt them later in life.

Even worse, they may lose at trial against an experienced attorney, resulting in a Final PFA Order that lasts up to three years and forever tarnishes their reputation as an abusive person.

Don’t let this happen to you.

At Spivak Law Firm, we provide strong, aggressive representation at PFA hearings in Pittsburgh and all surrounding counties, including: Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreland.

To schedule a free consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Served With A Bogus PFA?

Posted on May 21 2018 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Have you been served with a bogus PFA?

Do the allegations include exaggerations, misrepresentations, or outright lies?

You’re not alone. It is commonly known among family-law judges and attorneys that some people claim they were harassed or physically abused in order to gain leverage in divorce or child custody disputes.

Some people will lie on PFA petitions just to evict you from your home or damage your reputation.

If you’ve been served with a bogus PFA, we strongly recommend calling Spivak Law Firm. We provide strong, aggressive reputation at PFA hearings to preserve your rights and reputation.

Call us for a free consultation at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Reading Aloud To Young Kids

Posted on May 21 2018 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

It has long been known that reading and playing with young children helps them with early literacy skills and promotes bonding between parent and child.

But it also helps curb problem behaviors in children like aggression, hyperactivity, and difficulty with attention, according to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics.

Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law with a special focus on child custody. In most cases, we help parents negotiate custody agreements. We also have significant experience with high-conflict cases that involve extensive litigation and custody trials.

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

What is an expungement?

Posted on May 7 2018 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Expungement refers to the legal process for erasing a person’s criminal record. Under Pennsylvania law, the term “expunge” means as follows:

-To remove information so that there is no trace or indication that such information existed;

-To eliminate all identifiers that may be used to trace the identity of an individual, allowing remaining data to be used for statistical purposes; or

-Maintenance of certain information required or authorized when an individual has successfully completed the conditions of any pre-trial or post-trial diversion or probation program.

Spivak Law Firm helps people expunge their criminal records so they can move on with their lives. To speak with an experienced criminal expungement attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Child Custody and Addiction

Posted on May 7 2018 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

If you’re a parent addicted to opiates or other illegal drugs, you are at risk of losing custody of your children.

At Spivak Law Firm, we have significant experience helping parents with drug and alcohol addictions retain custodial rights over their children.

We have helped many parents reunite with their children by obtaining court orders providing them shared or even primary physical custody.

Some of our clients tell their hopeful stories here.

We help parents connect with important resources. We work with our clients to develop long-term strategies to achieve their goals.

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