Blog - Spivak Law Firm

Factors For Modifying Child Support

Posted on December 16 2020 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

A child support order may be modified at any time based on a change in circumstance.

The following factors related to the child support order are considered:

The income of either parent significantly increases or decreases;
The child now has significant or continuing medical expenses;
Child care and/or medical insurance changes;
The parents are now living together; or
The child receiving support is 18-years-old and graduated from high school.

Spivak Law Firm routinely helps people at child support hearings by providing strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation.

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

Wills and Powers of Attorney For Young Adults

Posted on December 16 2020 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

It’s never too early to start thinking about drafting your Last Will and Testament and Powers of Attorney.

Clearly stating health care wishes and appointing a person to direct them are important at every age because accidents happen.

The trauma of an accident is exacerbated when sensitive health care decisions must be made based on assumptions, leaving family members, doctors, or even judges guessing about the patient’s values.

If you are healthy and young, you may still want to get certain wishes down in writing for just-in-case situations. For many parents, this means determining who will care for their children in the event of an emergency or crisis.

For more information about drafting your Last Will and Testament and Powers of Attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Final Preparations for Divorce

Posted on November 30 2020 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

When preparing for divorce, you should take stock of all your financial assets and debts.

For many families, the most significant assets include the marital residence and retirement accounts.

Other assets may include bank accounts, investment accounts, vehicles, jewelry, and furnishings.

Debts commonly include credit cards, mortgage balances, home-equity lines of credit, and student loans.

At Spivak Law Firm, we routinely help people determine the value of their marital estates and negotiate marriage settlement agreements.

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

Pennsylvania Child Support Guidelines

Posted on November 30 2020 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

The Pennsylvania Child Support Guidelines were developed with the principle that the children of separated, divorced or single parents should receive the same amount of parental support as if the parents were together.

The State Supreme Court issued these Guidelines for calculating how much child support a parent should pay.

The Guidelines are based on the needs of the child and the ability of the parents to provide child support until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later. The incomes and assets of both parents are considered when the court establishes a support order.

Based in Pittsburgh, Spivak Law Firm handles all family law matters, including: divorce, child custody, child support, and Protection From Abuse (PFA).

For more information, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

If You Witness Domestic Abuse

Posted on November 25 2020 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

While domestic violence typically happens behind closed doors, in some cases it occurs in a public space or around friends or family members, meaning that other people may witness or be aware of the abuse.

Here are 3 tips for what you might do to intervene:

Take into account your own safety as well as the survivor’s. Gather a group of people to stand nearby and either verbally or physically intervene.
Contact the authorities if necessary.
Approach the victim afterwards in a private space and provide them with the contact information of support services.

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.

PFA Law: 24 Hours to Relinquish Guns

Posted on November 10 2020 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Under Pennsylvania law, a person subjected to a Final Protection From Abuse (PFA) order was given 60 days to turn over his or her firearms.

A new law speeds up the time that people have to relinquish their guns to 24 hours after they have been convicted of a misdemeanor domestic-violence crime or had a Final PFA order approved against them by a judge.

The 24-hour provision intends to close a loophole that exposed domestic-abuse victims to continued risk of violence even after obtaining a PFA order.

The new law applies even in cases of alleged stalking, harassment, and assault where guns were not involved.

Spivak Law Firm provides strong representation at PFA hearings. For more information, call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Criminal Court: The Process

Posted on November 10 2020 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

If your criminal case cannot be resolved at the preliminary hearing before a magistrate, it moves to the Court of Common Pleas in the county where the alleged crime occurred.

First, there will be a formal arraignment. Your attorney will enter his or her appearance and obtain your next court date.

Next, there will be a pretrial conference. Your attorney will meet with the prosecutor to discuss everything from documentary evidence to key witnesses to potential settlement options including plea deals.

If the case cannot be resolved, it will move to a trial. Your case may be tried before the assigned judge or a jury of your peers.

Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of criminal defense with a special focus on domestic-violence defense.

For a free consultation, call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Is Spanking Harmful to Kids?

Posted on October 26 2020 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Parents should not spank their children due to the harmful effects of corporal punishment, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The group also advised against using non-physical punishment that is humiliating, scary or threatening.

Corporal punishment is defined as “non-injurious, open-handed hitting with the intention of modifying child behavior.”

It is associated with increased aggression and defiance, producing effects similar to those of children who experience physical abuse, according to recent studies.

It is estimated that about two-thirds of parents in the United States have spanked their children.

Spivak Law Firm handles all family law matters, including: child custody, child support, divorce, Protection From Abuse (PFA), and Children Youth and Families (CYF). To schedule a consultation with an experienced family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Child Support And Cash Assistance

Posted on October 26 2020 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

People who receive cash assistance generally cannot receive child support under Pennsylvania law.

If you receive cash assistance, current child support owed during the time you receive cash assistance will be paid to the state.

This is called “assignment of support rights.”

The amount of your support that may be collected by the state is limited to the amount of cash assistance you receive.

Spivak Law Firm handles all matters related to child support, including: filing for child support, negotiating settlement agreements, calculating child support, and advocating for our clients at child support hearings.

To learn more about child support in Pennsylvania, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

What Is CYF?

Posted on October 26 2020 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Children Youth and Families is the name of the child-welfare agency in Allegheny County.

The stated purpose of CYF is: to protect children from abuse and neglect, to keep families together whenever possible, and to make sure that every child has a safe, permanent home.

The agency ensures that basis needs are met by their families, including: food, safe housing, supervision, clothing, and medical care.

The agency investigates reports of child abuse, neglect, and teen issues to determine if they are true.

If the reports are true and safety issues identified, the agency must decide if the child will be safe if they stay in their parent’s home.

Most of the time, children can stay in their home with their parents and the family will receive services to address the safety issues.

Other times the safety issues cannot be addressed while the child remains in the home and the child enters placement.

Children may be placed with a relative, in a foster home, or in a group home facility.

When a child is placed, visitation must be arranged for the child and the parent to keep their relationship strong.

Spivak Law Firm provides strong, effective advocacy for people facing child abuse allegations. To speak with an attorney experienced in family law and criminal defense, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.