Family Law

Child Custody: Co-Parenting Counseling

Posted on September 23 2024 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Parents who engage in high levels of conflict often suffer from poor communication.

Family Courts tend to order such parents to engage in co-parenting counseling to hopefully improve their communication skills for the sake of their children.

Many co-parenting counselors now provide services virtually. This can be convenient for busy parents and provide a buffer for exes who do not want to sit in the same room together.

Like any counseling, the success of sessions tends to depend on the parents’ commitment to the process.

In some cases, Judges will not allow child custody cases to move forward to trial until the parents demonstrate a consistent, good-faith effort to resolve their differences in co-parenting counseling.

Spivak Law Firm handles all child custody matters, including but not limited to: negotiating and drafting agreements, hearings and trials, motions court, relocation, father’s rights, grandparents’ rights.

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

PFA Orders and Supervised Custody

Posted on May 19 2024 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Protection From Abuse (PFA) Orders commonly restrict parents from their children.

In some cases, while a PFA remains active, a parent may go several months only getting to see their children for short visits in public places while supervised by a third party.

Meanwhile, police detectives, caseworkers, and forensic specialists may be called upon to investigate allegations of maltreatment against the children.

While it may feel demeaning and unnecessary to have your custody visits supervised, Spivak Law Firm frequently encourages parents to exercise visits to maintain relationships with the children.

The purpose of the supervisor is to ensure the children’s safety. A supervisor also safeguards the parent from false allegations of abuse.

Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation. Call us today at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Child Custody: International Travel

Posted on May 19 2024 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Air travel has increased significantly in recent months now that COVID restrictions have eased.

But parents in separated families may still struggle to make plans if their exes oppose them.

If your ex says no to your travel plans, your only option may be to ask for a Family Court Judge to decide.

In many cases, Courts will allow parents to fly internationally so long as the trip does not interfere with the other parent’s custody schedule and the travel destination is considered safe.

If necessary, Courts may also order that parents cooperate with one another to ensure that passports and other documents necessary for air travel have been secured.

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

Why Child Custody Orders Are Important

Posted on January 3 2023 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Child custody orders are important even for parents who mostly get along. They are essential for parents who don’t.

Child custody orders typically include the schedules for when each parent will have the children, including during summers and holidays.

For high-conflict cases, it is often important to have detailed orders that govern everything from custody exchange locations to vacations and modes of communication.

But even parents who typically communicate well benefit from orders that lay out expectations when conflict arises.

Parents are always able to deviate from the orders so long as they both agree.

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

Call us today at (412) 344-4900 or (800) 545-9390.

Choosing a Divorce Attorney

Posted on January 3 2023 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

It can be expensive to change attorneys during a divorce, as the new attorney may spend hours reviewing all dockets and documents to be fully informed about the case.

You may avoid such unnecessary expenses by carefully choosing the right divorce attorney for your needs.

–Reputation: Some law firms are known for pushing litigation, while others are better known for negotiating favorable outcomes. At Spivak Law Firm, we are tough negotiators and skilled trial lawyers who take the time to understand your needs and create legal strategies to achieve your goals.

–Experience: You may consider researching how long an attorney has been in practice, as well as his or her level of experience with divorce matters. No attorney handles all practices areas, so make sure that your attorney has significant experience handling divorce cases. At Spivak Law Firm, we handle all divorce and family law matters.

–Hourly Rates: Choose a law firm with an hourly rate that fits your budget. A lower hourly rate will stretch your retainer and likely save you thousands of dollars over the course of your case. At Spivak Law Firm, we charge competitive rates commensurate with our experience.

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

Divorce: Hiding Assets Via Cryptocurrency

Posted on December 9 2022 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

For as long as there has been divorce, spouses have suspected one another of hiding assets.

“Originally, it was under the mattress, and then it was the bank account in the Caymans; now it’s crypto,” according to a recent article in The New York Times.

The rise of cryptocurrencies has led to increased divorce litigation over suspicions that spouses are using the new medium to conceal the true value of the marital estate.

Forensic investigators are often hired to track the movement of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin from online exchanges to digital wallets.

Digital assets can be traced. Transactions are recorded on blockchains, enabling analysts to follow the money.

Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law, including: divorce, high net-worth cases, equitable distribution, spousal support, and alimony. In some cases, we work with forensic accountants to determine the value of a marital estate.

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

Divorce and Bankruptcy

Posted on September 12 2022 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

My spouse and I both want a divorce. We also need to file for bankruptcy due to our significant debts. What should we do first: file for divorce or file for bankruptcy?

The answer depends on the circumstances of your case, according to a recent article in Lawyers Journal written by Pittsburgh attorney Beth Slaby.

“If the spouses are on amicable terms, it may be best to file bankruptcy first,” she writes. “This allows both to share in the cost of attorneys’ fees and filing fees and could possibly protect them from paying joint debt.”

On the other hand, she writes: “The benefit of filing for divorce first may be that a married couple’s joint income is too high to qualify for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, but a person might be able to qualify individually after the divorce is final.”

Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law, including: divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, alimony, division of assets and debts, and Protection From Abuse (PFA).

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

Last Will and Testament Requirements

Posted on September 12 2022 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

When making your Last Will and Testament, the following factors must be met for it to be deemed a valid legal document under Pennsylvania law:

You must be 18 or older to make a Last Will and Testament.
You must be of sound mind.
Your will must be in writing, containing your signature or mark, or signed by another at your direction in your presence, and the signing must be done in the presence of two witnesses who also sign at the same time.
You must have a date on the will of when it was created and signed.
You must name a person to be the executor of your will. It is recommended that you also name a backup executor, as a contingency in case your first-named person cannot serve (or prefers not to serve) for some reason.
You must list at least one substantive provision. For example, you must leave your property to a named person in your will.

Spivak Law Firm helps people carry out their wishes by drafting their Last Will and Testament and Powers of Attorney. For a free consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Teen Mental Health Issues

Posted on August 8 2022 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Statistics regarding teen mental health are, well, depressing.

More than 30% of high schoolers report persistent sadness.

About 20% say they have seriously considered suicide.

Teenagers may be happy to learn that some social scientists recommend combating these problems by advocating for less homework and later start-times at school.

Teenagers are not getting enough sleep, according to a recent Washington Post article:

“No one questions the benefits of sleep for babies and young children. But teenagers’ brains and bodies are changing and growing just as much as they did in their earliest years. The restructuring of the adolescent brain is pivotal to healthy development – and to a large extent, it occurs during sleep.”

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.

Estate Planning Goals

Posted on August 8 2022 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

What do you want to accomplish by having an estate plan in place? Here are a list of possibilities:

Protecting your spouse if you die?
Helping your children pay for college?
Safeguarding your home and investments?
Donating to your favorite charity?
Ensuring that you have enough funds in retirement?
Selecting caretakers for your minor children if both parents die?
Passing along family heirlooms?

At Spivak Law Firm, we help our clients identify their goals and employ strategies to help achieve them. To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.