"CYF" - Spivak Law Firm

Erase Your PFA Record

Posted on April 13 2020 by wirthdesign

Erase Your PFA Record in Pittsburgh

Protection From Abuse (PFA) Orders can destroy a person’s reputation even if the PFA is later withdrawn or dismissed.

A PFA can threaten your employment and your ability to volunteer, especially if your employment requires a license or involves working with children.

A PFA Order can harm careers especially for teachers, daycare workers, nurses, coaches, and police officers.

The PFA Petition and Order are public documents easily accessible by employers, colleagues, neighbors and friends.

At Spivak Law Firm, we have helped many people preserve their reputations and careers by expunging the PFA documents from the public docket.

We handle all PFA matters, including: PFA defense, PFA hearings, PFA settlement negotiations, PFA and child custody, PFA and CYF, PFA violations and PFA expungements. To learn if you are eligible for a PFA expungement, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

How To Expunge Your PFA Record Attorneys

There are two main ways to expunge a PFA record. In both circumstances, the Temporary PFA must be withdrawn, dismissed or expired. Unfortunately, Final PFA Orders generally are not subject to expungement even if they are decades-old and the defendant has lived a clean life with no further allegations or abuse or brushes with law enforcement.

If you qualify, the easiest path to erasing your PFA record is for the parties to sign an order of court consenting to expunging the documents from the public docket. The order is then executed with the court and filed with the Department of Court Records in your county, which generally expunges the documents after a 30-day waiting period.

If the person who originally filed the PFA Petition will not consent to a PFA expungement, then you may wish to file a motion with the court. If contested, the court will then determine whether to grant your request.

Spivak Law Firm handles all PFA matters, including hearings and expungements. To speak with an experienced PFA lawyer, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Child Custody Schedules

Posted on August 25 2019 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

When a court has ordered shared custody between parents, it can be particularly challenging to alter that joint schedule.

But there are a number of circumstances where a judge may consider changing a custody schedule, including, when you or your ex:

Attempt to alienate the child from the other parent;
Repeatedly denigrate the other parent to the child;
Are charged or convicted with a crime;
Are incarcerated;
Are investigated by Children Youth and Families (CYF);
Abuse drugs or alcohol, or;
Relocate outside of the county.

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

PFA: Economic Abuse

Posted on August 20 2019 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Economic abuse is a common tactic used by abusers to gain control and power in a relationship.

Economic abuse is present in 98 percent of abusive relationships, according to the National Network To End Domestic Violence.

Economic abuse includes methods of financial control such as withholding money, forbidding the victim from working, and controlling how all of the money is spent.

The effects of economic abuse can be devastating. In fact, 60 percent of domestic violence survivors reported losing their jobs as a direct consequence of the abuse.

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: Financial Abuse

Posted on April 28 2019 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

In many domestic violence cases, financial abuse is what keeps a woman trapped in the abusive relationship. Even if these women are able to leave the relationship, their finances may remain in jeopardy.

A new startup company, FreeFrom, pilots entrepreneurship programs for domestic violence survivors. Many of the women enrolled in the program come in with small-business ideas and the organization helps identify what these women are good at and how they can turn it into an opportunity.

By helping survivors start businesses, they can earn their own incomes and achieve financial stability independent of a partner. Program participants can meet with FreeFrom’s team once a week for up to 90 minutes and the free service runs for a six-month period.

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.

Divorce: Tips For Protecting Your Kids

Posted on November 26 2018 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

Divorce can be emotionally painful and traumatizing, especially for children.

Here are tips for protecting your kids as you go through divorce:

When you break the news to your children, be prepared to comfort and reassure them.
Encourage your children to be honest with their thoughts and feelings.
Provide consistency and routine for your children to avoid major disruptions in their school and social life.
Try to avoid major changes and transitions so your children have time to adjust.

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

Spivak Law Firm Wins More Awards

Posted on May 26 2018 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

The award-winning Spivak Law Firm received multiple honors this month for providing superior legal services and client satisfaction.

The Pittsburgh-based firm handles all areas of family law and criminal defense with a special focus on Protection from Abuse (PFA) hearings and high-conflict child custody cases.

Our award-winning attorneys have helped hundreds of people accused of physical abuse, harassment, stalking, sexual abuse, child abuse, and other forms of domestic abuse.

In many cases, we get the PFA and related criminal charges dismissed then expunge our client’s records so they can fully move on with their lives.

We handle the following family law cases: divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, Children Youth and Families (CYF), and Protection From Abuse (PFA).

We routinely defend people criminally charged with: domestic violence, driving under the influence (DUI), simple assault, aggravated assault, harassment, recklessly endangering another person, stalking, disorderly conduct, retail theft and various other misdemeanors and summary offenses.

This month, Attorney Todd Spivak was honored again by American Institute of Family Law Attorneys and designated a Super Lawyer.

Attorney Rebecca Canterbury was named a Top 10 Family Law Attorney by Attorney and Practice Magazine and received a 10.0 rating on the Avvo legal directory, where clients routinely sing her praises as a strong, compassionate advocate who gets results.

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

Child Custody and Young Toddlers

Posted on April 30 2018 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

For kids as young as two- or three-years-old, lying is actually a sign of intelligence.

New research shows that toddlers who lie have the following traits compared to other toddlers:

Higher verbal I.Q.s, by as much as 10 points;
Better faculties for enabling them to control impulses and remain focused on a task;
Heightened ability to see the world through other people’s eyes and other indicators of cognitive development; and
More well-adjusted and socially adept.

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

Don’t Let A PFA Ruin Your Life

Posted on December 4 2017 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

A PFA is a court order that aims to protect victims of domestic violence. A PFA can:

Restrict you from contacting the accuser;
Evict you from your home;
Award the accuser temporary custody of your children;
Require you to pay child support; and
Send you to jail if you are even accused of violating it.

Don’t make the mistake of blindly accepting a PFA. The consequences of a PFA are harsh and long-lasting, as a PFA can remain in effect for up to three years.

Helping Kids With Stress

Posted on October 9 2017 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

The standard response for problem children is to punish them. However, new studies show that making sure everyone in the school community understands the effects of trauma on children can help reduce their damaging effects.

Children who lack adequate protection from adults can experience potentially damaging effects. Researchers have learned that highly stressful childhood experiences have far-reaching implications for schools.

With this knowledge, schools can offer children special services that cater to their individual needs.

Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law with a focus on high-conflict child custody and allegations of domestic abuse. We handle: child custody, child support, divorce, spousal support, 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.

Protecting Kids In Divorce

Posted on October 9 2017 by Todd Spivak and Rebecca Canterbury

The divorce process can be enormously difficult when children are involved.

A study by researchers at the University of York found that children of divorced parents are more damaged by the fighting during the marriage than the split itself. This inter-parental conflict may be harmful to a child’s development, making them more likely to have difficulty with peers, drop out of school and experience emotional problems.

Spivak Law Firm handles all family law matters, including: divorce, child custody, child support, 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.