Best Child Custody Lawyer in Pittsburgh
5 Tips for Co-Parenting During Coronavirus
In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania directed all Courts to generally close to the public from March 19, 2020 through at least April 3, 2020, with limited exceptions.
Absent a true emergency, parents are stripped of the ability to bring child custody matters to Court until at least April 3, 2020, or even as late as mid-April in some counties.
Until you are able to proceed through the Court, we recommend following these five tips:
- Comply with your Custody Order of Court as much as possible, unless in cases of true emergency.
- Be honest with your co-parent about suspected and/or confirmed exposure to the Coronavirus, work together to limit your child’s exposure, and immediately notify one another if your child exhibits symptoms of the virus.
- Provide makeup time to your co-parent if they have missed out on time with your child. The Court expects parents to work together to reasonably accommodate one other, and may hold your inflexibility against you in future proceedings.
- Try to be understanding and flexible. If possible, try to work together for the sake of your child. Parents may be subject to layoffs and unable to make support payments.
- Encourage the relationship between your child and your co-parent. Your co-parent may be working extra hours in the wake of this crisis, or may even be forced into a weeks-long quarantine. Work together to provide telephone calls, FaceTime, and/or Skype between your child and co-parent.
The attorneys at Spivak Law Firm are available to counsel you and provide options for how to best handle your custody concerns. To speak with an experienced child custody lawyer, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA Orders Restrict Child Custody Rights
Q: I was served with a PFA. Can I see my kids?
A: Please review the PFA order closely. There is a section in the PFA that addresses your child custody rights while the order remains active.
In many cases, the order states that the defendant shall have no contact with their minor children until the PFA is resolved. This may occur even if the allegations of abuse do not involve the children.
In other cases, the PFA order will allow contact with the children on a limited basis, including by phone or in person if arranged by a third party.
You must follow the PFA order. If you are accused of violating the PFA even by having non-threatening contact, you may face arrest and criminal charges.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law and criminal defense with a special focus on domestic violence and child custody. To schedule a consultation, call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA And Divorce: Date Of Separation
The filing of a Protection From Abuse (PFA) petition against a married partner may be the first step toward divorce.
If so, the PFA will usually as a clear date of separation when the couple stopped living together.
This may prove important, as divorce laws in Pennsylvania permit a spouse to delay the divorce process by a year.
The filing of a PFA often starts the clock on the one-year waiting period.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law, including: divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, and PFAs.
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.
Child Custody: Parental Alienation
Parental alienation may occur when one parent continually trash talks the other parent to their children.
This behavior can have devastating results. Your children may no longer wish to see you or your extended family. And despite your repeated requests, your ex may not cooperate in efforts to address the problem.
If you’ve been alienated from your children, you can petition the court for counseling with your children. It is recommended that you seek counseling from a licensed professional who routinely handles custody and parental alienation cases. Although you may feel angry and heartbroken, be patient with your children through the process.
Spivak Law Firm routinely handles child custody matters involving allegations of parental alienation. We represent clients in all areas of family law with a special focus on child custody and domestic abuse.
To speak with an experienced child custody attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Tips for Co-Parenting
For divorced or separated couples, coordinating schedules for the children’s school schedule can be challenging.
But factoring in extracurricular activities, doctor’s appointments, and play dates can be especially tough.
To keep everyone on the same page, consider setting a family meeting once a month to discuss your children and their schedules.
You may find it easier for you and your ex-spouse to hash out schedules sitting down all at once rather than with scattered phone calls and emails.
At the end of the meeting, consider giving your children a copy of the schedule so they are aware of what to expect.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law: divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, 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.
Child Custody and Divorce: Holiday Tips
The holidays are stressful, particularly for divided families, but they can still be enjoyable if you plan ahead.
In order to avoid needless stress or confusion, let your children know in advance where they will be during the holidays, and assure them they will have a good time.
Although you may be feeling lonely or sad without them, try encouraging them to be happy and have fun.
Spivak Law Firm wishes you a safe, happy Memorial Day weekend.
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.
Sharing Custody of Infants
Studies show that infants are best able to create healthy relationships with both parents when they spend regular time with each.
This means that both parents should go no longer than a few days without seeing the child.
There should be daily communication regarding the child’s eating and sleeping patterns, medical developments, as well as any noteworthy milestones.
If there is a high level of conflict between you and the other parent, consider keeping track of these updates in a notebook, which you may pass back and forth during exchanges.
Spivak Law Firm handles all family law matters, including: child custody, child support, divorce, spousal support, Protection From Abuse (PFA), and Children Youth and Families (CYF). If your ex is denying you regular and frequent contact with your child, call Spivak Law Firm today at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.