McKeesport PFA Lawyer
Three Types of PFA Orders
There are three types of PFA orders in Pennsylvania.
PFA stands for Protection From Abuse.
A PFA is a restraining order that prohibits the alleged abuser from having any contact with the alleged victim.
Under Pennsylvania law, abuse is defined broadly. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats of violence, harassment, and stalking.
A person seeking protection from a family member or current or former sexual partner may obtain one of the following three types of PFA orders.
First, an Emergency PFA will last through a weekend or holiday when courts are generally closed. It expires automatically.
Second, a Temporary PFA triggers a hearing date that is supposed to occur within ten days. In Allegheny County and other counties surrounding Pittsburgh, courts grant more than 90 percent of requests for a Temporary PFA.
Third, a Final PFA may be obtained by consent, failing to appear, or after a hearing before a judge. A Final PFA may remain in place for up to three years.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation at PFA hearings. For a free consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
What is an Emergency PFA?
A person seeking protection from an abuser may obtain an Emergency PFA even when courts are generally closed.
In Allegheny County, local magistrates and a night court judge are available to grant Emergency PFAs at any time, including: on weekends, during holidays, and late at night.
An Emergency PFA expires when courts resume their regular business hours. Therefore, an Emergency PFA granted on Saturday night will generally expire the following Monday.
A person who obtains an Emergency PFA will often return to Court during regular business hours to request a Temporary PFA, which will trigger a hearing date so a judge may determine whether a Final PFA is warranted.
A Final PFA can last up to three years.
The person accused of abuse does not receive any notice or opportunity to defend against the Emergency PFA or Temporary PFA.
Defendants are given the opportunity to challenge the abuse accusations at the Final PFA hearing before a judge.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive representation at PFA hearings. To speak with an experienced PFA attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Temporary PFA v. Final PFA
If you are served with a Temporary PFA, a hearing will be scheduled within 10 days.
At the hearing, a judge will hear testimony and review evidence to determine if a Final PFA is warranted.
Most requests for a Temporary PFA are granted. No judge wants to deny a person’s request for protection then find out later that the person seeking help was seriously harmed.
The chances of obtaining a Final PFA are significantly lower, especially if you have an experienced PFA defense attorney.
The Final PFA represents the first time in the process that the defendant can push back on the abuse allegations.
The defendant can testify, cross-examine the accuser, call witnesses to the stand, and provide documentary evidence for the court to review.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong representation at PFA hearings in Pittsburgh and all surrounding counties, including: Allegheny, Armstrong, Crawford, Beaver, Buter, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Somerset. Venango, Washington and Westmoreland.
For a free consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Final PFA: A Life-Long Record of Abuse
Many people who are served with a Temporary Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order make the mistake of not taking it seriously.
They might not hire an attorney. This is mistake because the alleged victim will almost certainly have an experienced trial lawyer. Pittsburgh and all surrounding counties have local nonprofit organizations that provide free lawyers for people alleging abuse.
Some defendants do not even show up to court for the Final PFA hearing. This is a mistake because failing to appear for the hearing will usually result in a maximum three-year Final PFA against you.
All defendants should have an experienced PFA attorney evaluate their case even if they no longer want to have contact with the person alleging abuse.
A Final PFA creates a permanent record of abusive behavior.
If you’ve been served with a PFA, call Spivak Law Firm today. For a free consultation, call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA Hearing: Do I Need A Lawyer?
Q: I’ve been served with a PFA. Do I need an attorney?
A: Yes.
In Pittsburgh and surrounding counties, a free attorney is provided to anyone alleging abuse in PFA Court.
Therefore, if you are a PFA defendant, you should level the playing field by hiring an attorney to represent you.
Otherwise, you will be negotiating with and potentially facing off in court against a seasoned PFA lawyer.
A Final PFA carries significant consequences.
You may be evicted from your home and restricted from your children. You may lose your job. You could even lose your liberty and go to jail if accused of violating the PFA.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive defense at Final PFA hearings. If necessary, we subpoena documents and witnesses. We are experienced trial lawyers.
We offer a free consultation for PFA matters and generally charge a flat fee so our clients know upfront exactly how much our representation will cost.
For more information, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Tracking PFA Defendants
Under Pennsylvania law, a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order carries serious consequences.
It may evict you from your home, restrict you from your children, and even lead to your arrest.
New legislation may further strengthen the law by requiring PFA defendants to wear an electronic monitoring device.
Dozens of other states allow GPS monitoring for domestic-violence suspects.
In Pennsylvania, such devices are commonly used for criminal defendants.
PFAs are administered by family courts, though violating a PFA order may lead to criminal charges including Indirect Criminal Contempt, which carries a maximum six-month jail sentence.
The legislation regarding electronic monitoring comes on the heels of the 2018 law requiring a person under an active PFA order to turn over their firearms to local law enforcement within 24 hours.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation at PFA hearings. For a free consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA Orders May Affect Divorce
Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders can significantly affect a divorce.
A PFA can evict a person from their own home for an extended period of time. If you are going through a divorce, a PFA can evict a spouse from the marital residence and provide the other spouse leverage for maintaining the residence as part of the divorce settlement.
A PFA can also restrict a parent from his or her children. This could have a detrimental effect on your custody rights as you proceed through divorce.
If your custody rights are restricted due to a PFA, you may also be required to pay child support as a result since the other parent is primarily raising the child.
Spivak Law Firm handles all family law matters, including: divorce, child custody, child support, PFA defense, PFA for victims, division of assets and debts, spousal support, and alimony.
To speak with an experienced family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Couples Break Up In PFA Court
Under Pennsylvania law, Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders require a family or intimate relationship between the alleged victim and abuser.
While some rare cases pit parent against child or brother against brother, the vast majority of cases occur between spouses or ex-lovers.
PFA court can be highly emotional, as people are torn from their children, evicted from their homes, and fear losing their jobs.
An abuser often wants to reconcile with the person who obtained the PFA against them. In these situations, it is hard for them to accept that their relationship has been ended without an ability to speak or get closure.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation at PFA hearings. To speak with an experienced PFA attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
If You Witness Domestic Abuse
While domestic violence typically happens behind closed doors, in some cases it occurs in a public space or around friends or family members, meaning that other people may witness or be aware of the abuse.
Here are 3 tips for what you might do to intervene:
- Take into account your own safety as well as the survivor’s. Gather a group of people to stand nearby and either verbally or physically intervene.
- Contact the authorities if necessary.
- Approach the victim afterwards in a private space and provide them with the contact information of support services.
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 Affects Coaches And Volunteers
If you coach youth sports, a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order could threaten your ability to volunteer your time with children and damage your reputation in the community.
Judges routinely grant requests for Temporary PFA Orders by people alleging abuse. In many Pennsylvania counties, judges grant more than 90 percent of PFA requests.
A PFA can restrict you from your home and your kids, as well as threaten your employment and even your liberty if you are accused of violating the Order.
Additionally, a PFA can appear on a mandatory background check that may bar you from coaching children – even if the accusations contained in the PFA have nothing to do with children.
Spivak Law Firm aims to help people in Pittsburgh and nearby counties to get the PFA dismissed. We have effectively represented many people who require a clean background check, including: coaches, teachers, police officers, nurses and childcare workers.
If you’ve been served with a PFA, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.