Spivak Law Firm

Allegheny County CYF Attorneys

If you are under investigation by Allegheny County Children and Family (CYF) Services, you may be at risk of losing your children and your parental rights.

Many CYF investigations are prompted by a report to the agency from a relative, teacher, or medical professional that your child has been neglected or abused. A CYF investigation may also result from an allegation of child abuse as part of a criminal or Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order.

In Pennsylvania, the Juvenile Act provides child welfare agencies such as CYF the authority to intervene in the lives of children who may need state protections.

At Spivak Law Firm, we have helped many parents navigate the complex legal process to reunite them with their children due to CYF involvement. To schedule a consultation with a CYF attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

CYF Process In Pennsylvania

When CYF removes a child from a family due to allegations of neglect or abuse, there is a shelter care hearing within 72 hours. The purpose of the shelter care hearing is to determine if the can child can return home or should remain in another setting until a full hearing is conducted. The Court prefers to place the child with a relative, if possible.

Next, there is an adjudication hearing to decide if the allegations have been proven by the evidence and support CYF’s intervention on behalf of the child. The adjudication hearing is immediately followed by the disposition hearing, in which the court determines who will have custody and control of the child. Review hearings are scheduled every 90 days to review the progress or lack of progress made by parents.

At Spivak Law Firm, we strongly encourage parents to have an attorney at every hearing stage in the dependency process to protect their rights. To speak with an attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Pittsburgh Domestic Abuse Lawyers

At Spivak Law Firm, we focus our practice on family law and criminal defense cases involving allegations of domestic abuse. We handle Protection From Abuse (PFA), criminal domestic-violence, child custody and divorce.

We frequently defend people accused of abuse at PFA and criminal hearings. Typical allegations include: physical violence, harassment, threats of violence, stalking, sexual violence, reckless endangerment, and false imprisonment. We aim to protect our clients’ liberty and their reputations. We clean their records and assert their child custody rights.

In other cases, we help victims obtain protections and restrict their abuser from themselves and their children. We provide strong, compassionate advocacy at PFA and child custody hearings. We recommend an array of resources to help them.

To speak with a Pittsburgh attorney experienced in domestic-abuse matters, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.

Child Custody and Domestic Abuse

In a child custody trial, the Court considers several factors when determining the custody arrangement. One important factor, which may be more heavily weighted than others, is whether there is a history of domestic abuse in the family.

At Spivak Law Firm, we have helped many parents convicted of crimes involving domestic abuse to assert their child custody rights. Some people come to us at the lowest points in their lives. They face PFA orders, criminal charges, and CYF investigations. Their families, their jobs, and even their liberty are all at risk. We stand with our clients, providing strong legal representation and strategies to achieve their goals.

Initially, our clients may be restricted to seeing their children only when supervised by law enforcement or in a therapeutic setting. We work hard to gradually expand their custody time, even obtaining shared custody in some cases so they get equal time with their children.

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