Family Law

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.

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

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.

Child Custody and Child Support

Posted on October 23 2017 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

When an ex falls behind on child support, some parents use it as an opportunity to refuse visitation. But, parents who refuse visitation when their ex owes child support may be held in contempt of court for violating the terms of the custody agreement.

It is important to understand that child support is not a fee that one parent pays to get access to the child. Rather, it is intended to prevent the child from being deprived of one parent’s income if that parent isn’t living with the child.

If you want to change the child-custody schedule, we recommend consulting an experienced family-law attorney.

At Spivak Law Firm, we aim to minimize the emotional and financial costs of child-custody litigation. To discuss the custody arrangement that best fits your family’s needs, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

PFA May Carry Financial Penalties

Posted on October 17 2017 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

A Protection from Abuse (PFA) Order is a powerful tool for restricting the rights of the accused. In addition to prohibiting contact with the victim, the Court may order the abuser to pay for reasonable losses suffered by the victim, including: medical, dental, relocation, and counseling expenses. The court may also order the defendant to pay for ongoing financial needs such as health insurance and mortgage payments.

If you have filed, or have been served with a PFA, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Shared Custody In Pennsylvania

Posted on October 16 2017 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

In the past, divorce decrees offered children visits with their father every other weekend. But these visits were hardly enough to foster a father-child relationship.

Children who spend at least 35 percent of their time with each parent, rather than live with one and visit the other, have better relationships with their parents and do better academically, socially, and psychologically, according to more than 50 studies of joint physical custody.

Under Pennsylvania law, mothers and fathers may pursue shared custody schedules that allow for equal time with their children.

Spivak Law Firm helps parents assert their child-custody rights in Pittsburgh and all surrounding counties, including: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Washington County, and Westmoreland County.

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

How to Calculate Alimony in Pennsylvania

Posted on October 10 2017 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Unlike child support and even spousal support during the marriage, Pennsylvania law does not provide any formula for determining an alimony award.

After a divorce decree has been entered, the lower-earning spouse may be entitled to continued financial support in the form of alimony.

Courts generally award alimony only if the division of the marital estate is not sufficient to help the dependent spouse.

Alimony is based on the financial need of the dependent spouse and the length of the parties’ marriage.

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