Author Archives: Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Penalties for Failing to Appear in Court

Posted on November 7 2017 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

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.

Is Your Ex Always Late At Custody Exchanges

Posted on November 1 2017 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Is your ex routinely late for custody exchanges? Does it affect your own plans with the children? Does it make your blood boil and spark arguments?

Well, there may be an easy fix to solve the problem.

For instance, instead of meeting halfway, you might seek a custody order that requires the person coming into custody to provide all the transportation. Or, if the problem persists, you could seek a court order stating that a parent with more than ten minutes late to an exchange forfeits custody time.

Spivak Law Firm handles all child custody matters, including: trials, conciliations, motions, relocation hearings, and drafting orders specially tailored to your family. Call us today at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Marijuana Laws in Pennsylvania

Posted on November 1 2017 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Criminal charges for possessing marijuana may not seem as serious as other offenses, especially since it is legal in over 20 states. But in Pennsylvania, marijuana-related crimes are still often treated with the same severity as other drug crimes.

Federal law classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug, which means that it is considered among the most addicting drugs, such as heroin, and has no medical benefits.

Spivak Law Firm advocates for the legalization of marijuana and more research into the medicinal benefits of the drug for people suffering from multiple sclerosis, cancer, and other debilitating diseases.

If you face drug possession charges, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

4 Co-Parenting Tips

Posted on October 31 2017 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

If you have children and are getting a divorce, you will most likely need to work with the other parent on custody decisions. While this can be difficult, there are some steps you can take to make the process easier.

Here are 4 tips for co-parenting:

Put your children first. Make decisions that are in your children’s best interests.
Keep communication lines open. Good communication can avoid misunderstandings and keep your children from getting caught in the middle.
Make documents accessible. Creating a shared document or file that both parents can access can help you quickly share all of the essential information about your children.
Hire an experienced family-law attorney. Legal professionals familiar with child-custody issues are essential to ensuring a smooth co-parenting plan.

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 as (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

PFA and Same-Sex Couples

Posted on October 31 2017 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

In May, Louisiana lawmakers voted to remove the requirement that a victim be of the opposite sex of the alleged offender to be considered a victim of domestic violence.

Representative Patrick Connick, the author of the bill, has argued that because the U.S. Supreme Court has legalized gay marriage, same-sex couples should be receiving equal protection under the law.

In Louisiana, a person charged with committing domestic violence is held for 72 hours, in part to allow the victim to find a safe place to stay to escape further abuse. LGBT victims haven’t had that protection, which already puts them at risk.

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 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

3 Ways To Prepare For Divorce

Posted on October 31 2017 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

The divorce process is a stressful and emotionally difficult time, but there are things you can do to prepare.

Here are three ways to prepare for divorce:

Know your finances and make sure to obtain access to financial records, account statements, and other financial documents.
Avoid social media, as pictures, posts and Internet activity is commonly used as evidence in custody and parenting time disputes.
Set money aside for legal and other professional fees.

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

Domestic Violence Defense

Posted on October 24 2017 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Were you defending yourself from an aggressor and charged with a domestic-violence crime? This may seem unjust, but it happens routinely. Police officers responding to domestic violence incidents generally make arrests if they observe injuries on the other party.

Spivak Law Firm routinely helps those accused of domestic-violence crimes by providing strong, effective representation. Common domestic-violence crimes include:

Simple Assault
Aggravated Assault
Harassment
Stalking
Terroristic Threats
Recklessly Endangering Another Person

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

Expunging Your Criminal Record

Posted on October 24 2017 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

In the United States, only those who are convicted of the most serious crimes get life sentences. But everyone who enters the criminal justice system can be marked for life.

Even a minor interaction with the justice system can leave someone with a criminal record and a permanent barrier to a job, education or an occupational license.

Having a record can also affect housing, as federal housing law grants local authorities wide discretion, and many use it to keep people with a single arrest out of public housing.

At Spivak Law Firm, we aim to clear the arrests from your criminal record so you can move on with your life. For more information, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

PFA Orders in Pennsylvania

Posted on October 23 2017 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Q: What can a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order do?

A: In Pennsylvania, a Protection From Abuse Order can provide many protections, including:

Making the abuser leave the home.
Ordering the abuser to pay child support.
Prohibiting the abuser from contacting the victim.
Forcing the abuser to relinquish any firearms.

A PFA, also known as a restraining order, is a powerful tool to curb domestic violence.

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.

Helping Kids In Divorce

Posted on October 23 2017 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Divorce is a complicated process for everyone involved, especially for the children of co-parents. For children, picking up the signals and nuances of emotional relationships is no easy task. For example, children of divorced parents may mistake civility for a possibility of a reunion.

Here are three tips for protecting your children as you navigate the divorce process:

Remind your children how important they are in your separate lives.
Don’t project your own feelings about your ex onto your children.
Explain to your children why a reunion with their other parent may not be possible.

Spivak Law Firm provides experienced counsel to help you navigate the divorce process in a way that protects your children. To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.