Criminal Defense

Domestic Abuse and Trauma

Posted on January 28 2025 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Survivors of domestic violence face not only physical harm but also significant emotional and social trauma.

Survivors of intimate partner violence often experience guilt, shame, and self-blame, which can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts.

Domestic abuse perpetrators may control their partners’ daily activities and finances. Survivors frequently report a loss of agency and social isolation. Whether it is community ostracism or difficulty in career advancement, spousal violence can severely undermine a survivor’s ability to lead a fulfilling and independent life.

The effect on children can be significant. Children who witness domestic violence tend to struggle in school, have difficulty forming healthy friendships, and exhibit behavioral issues.

Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law and criminal defense with a special focus on child custody and domestic abuse. Call us today at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Child Custody and Criminal Charges

Posted on December 17 2024 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Don’t let criminal charges or a PFA Order stand in the way of filing for child custody.

Spivak Law Firm is one of the few law firms in Pittsburgh handling both family law and criminal defense matters.

Many of our clients face PFA actions or criminal charges such as assault or harassment.

Some even face criminal charges involving children, including: child abuse or endangering the welfare of a child.

The process for obtaining a child custody order can take up to a year or longer. We recommend against further delaying matters by waiting until your criminal charge is resolved.

In many cases, we are able to obtain custody orders while criminal charges are pending.

Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation in all family law and criminal defense matters. Call us today at (412) 344-4900 or (800) 545-9390.

Spivak Law Firm Offers Many Clients Flat Fees

Posted on June 21 2022 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Flat fees are one-time charges for legal services. Unlike retainers, flat fees provide clients certainty for how much their total legal fees will cost.

Flat fees are generally offered if a client seeks legal representation at a court hearing or for drafting legal documents. Flat fees may even include filing fees and travel costs related to the case.

At Spivak Law Firm, many of our clients appreciate that we offer flat fees so they know upfront how much they will need to pay for our representation.

We offer flat fees for many types of cases, including:

PFA hearings
Child support hearings
Child custody conciliations
Preliminary hearings
ICC hearings
Summary trials and summary appeals
Criminal record expungements
Drafting wills and powers of attorney

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

Why Get An Expungement?

Posted on December 31 2021 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

A criminal record can hurt you in many ways. For instance, it may keep you from:

-Landing a job or promotion at work;

-Gaining entrance to a college or certification program

-Qualifying for a loan or government assistance program

The chance of being harmed by a criminal record has increased greatly due to recent technological advancements allowing such information to be easily shared and sold to private companies.

If you have a criminal record, call Spivak Law Firm today to determine if you are eligible for an expungement. For a free consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Child Custody and Abuse Allegations

Posted on December 31 2021 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Allegations of sexual or physical abuse of a child may complicate a child custody case.

Courts take child abuse allegations very seriously, often prompting Child, Youth, and Family (CYF) Services investigations and forensic evaluations by medical professionals and law enforcement.

The alleged perpetrator, victim, and relevant third parties are all interviewed.

If the allegations are determined to be “unfounded,” evaluators and caseworkers make recommendations that often include family counseling.

It could take months for CYF to make final determinations, and a court will likely restrict your custody rights during that time.

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.

Divorce: Fleeing an Abusive Spouse

Posted on October 28 2021 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

There are many forms of spousal abuse: mental, emotional, physical, and sexual.

If you are the victim of spousal abuse, there are actions you can take to protect yourself.

You may file a criminal complaint with your local police department and seek to press charges if you are the victims of physical or sexual abuse. Domestic abuse charges commonly include: assault, harassment, stalking, reckless endangerment, and terroristic threats.

You may also consider filing for a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order to prohibit all contact and even have the abuser evicted from the marital residence. A PFA may be obtained on grounds of physical violence, sexual violence, harassment, or stalking.

If you are suffering mental or emotional abuse, you may request a hearing for exclusive possession of the marital residence, which would enable you to stay in your home during the divorce process and prohibit your abuser from the premises.

If you need immediate shelter from an abusive partner, there are many resources available to assist you.

Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation in all family law and criminal defense matters with a special focus on child custody and domestic abuse. Call us today at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Crime Victims’ Rights in Pennsylvania

Posted on October 28 2021 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Under Pennsylvania law, crime victims have the right to:

Be notified of significant actions and proceedings pertaining to their case
Have a victim advocate providing support at proceedings
Submit a victim impact statement prior to the sentencing of a defendant
Receive restitution and the return of seized property

Enacted in 1998, the Pennsylvania Crime Victims Act includes a section titled the Crime Victims Bill of Rights.

Today, Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering whether to enshrine the rights of crime victims in the state’s constitution under Marsy’s Law.

Based in Pittsburgh, Spivak Law Firm handles all family law and criminal defense matters.

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

Pennsylvania Expungement Law Draws Criticism

Posted on September 27 2021 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

As Pennsylvania recently enacted a sweeping new expungement law, thousands of people across the state stood to benefit from new opportunities to clean their criminal records so they could move on with their lives.

Some employers and landlords oppose the new clean-slate law on grounds that they have a public-safety interest in knowing the criminal records of their employees and tenants.

The new law seeks to strike a balance by making people with criminal records wait as much as five or ten years before they are eligible for an expungement.

Based in Pittsburgh, Spivak Law Firm has helped people across Allegheny County to expunge their criminal and PFA records.

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

Access to Criminal Records

Posted on August 31 2021 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

If you have a criminal record, it is visible to the public through a basic docket search using your first and last name. If your criminal record is wiped clean through the expungement process, it will not appear on public dockets.

But district attorneys and the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository will still have access to your record. Other law enforcement agencies and courts may obtain access to your record by request. They retain access to your record for the following purposes:

To identify people in criminal investigations;
To determine the grading of future criminal offenses; and
To determine eligibility for diversionary programs.

Erasing your criminal record may open new opportunities for employment.

Spivak Law Firm expunges criminal records for a low, one-time fee. For more information, call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

PFA Hearings: Child Testimony

Posted on May 7 2021 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

A child under 13-years-old who alleges physical or sexual abuse may not have to testify at a Protection From Abuse (PFA) hearing under Pennsylvania Law.

The Tender Years Hearsay Act allows a psychologist or caseworker from Children Youth and Families (CYF) to testify on the child’s behalf.

The purpose of the Act is to protect children from the added trauma of appearing in court to describe the details of the alleged assault.

New legislation may expand the Act to include children under 17-years-old.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania opposes the bill on grounds that it violates the defendant’s right to due process.

Courts heavily rely on other professionals to determine whether abuse on a child actually occurred.

There may be a forensic interview conducted by a child abuse specialist in the presence of a police detective and a CYF caseworker.

Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law and criminal defense with a special focus on PFA, domestic abuse and high-conflict child custody.

Call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.