Monroeville Child Custody Lawyer
Shared 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 areas of family law: child custody, child support, divorce, and Protection From Abuse (PFA). If your ex is denying you regular and frequent contact with your infant child, call Spivak Law Firm today at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Child Custody and Back-to-School
The transition from summer vacation to back-to-school is a difficult one to make for both parents and children. To avoid conflict between you and your ex-spouse, consider planning ahead with these four tips:
- Coordinate back-to-school shopping for the children.
- Determine which parent will complete schoolwork (or certain assignments) with the children.
- Discuss after-school activities for the children.
- Coordinate schedules for parent-teacher conferences.
To further prevent conflict, avoid discussing these issues in front of your children.
Spivak Law Firm handles all family law matters, including: child custody, child support, divorce, equitable distribution, 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.
4 Tips for Sharing Custody
Your child’s refusal to follow a custody order places you in a difficult position. Violation of a court order can subject you to contempt proceedings, which can carry harsh penalties such as fines, license suspensions, and even jail time.
Since it may be difficult to force your child to visit with the other parent, try following these four tips to avoid being held in contempt:
- Ensure your child is dressed, packed and ready to go;
- Encourage your child to go with the other parent;
- Record your attempts to follow the custody order;
- Consider enrolling your child in counseling to discuss underlying issues.
To speak with an experienced child custody attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Child Custody and Relocation
Under Pennsylvania child custody laws, relocation is defined as any change in residence that substantially affects the custody rights of the other parent. Even if there is no custody order, you must abide by the relocation statute. Indeed, relocating just 20 minutes away could be a violation of the law and result in a contempt action against you.
Proper custody relocation involves either gaining consent from the other parent or obtaining court approval through a formal process.
To speak with an experienced family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Divorce: Living Separately Under One Roof
Given today’s economic realities, it is not at all uncommon for married couples to continue living together even after separating and heading toward divorce.
After all, many families struggle to keep up with their expenses in one household. Taking on a second mortgage or another monthly rental payment may not be an option.
Even if the parties still live together, it is possible to establish a date of separation for purposes of divorce so long as the parties:
- Separate bank accounts. The parties should separate their finances by opening individual bank accounts.
- Abstain from marital sex. The parties should no longer share a bedroom or bed.
- Do not hold themselves out as married. The parties should refrain from describing themselves as a married couple to others in the community.
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.
High Conflict Child Custody Cases
In Allegheny County, parents are strongly encouraged to determine their own child custody schedules. In most cases, with the help of family law attorneys and court-appointed mediators, parents are able to reach agreement on how to divide time with their children.
But high-conflict custody cases often cannot be resolved through negotiation. Parents with serious communication problems and high levels of anger and distrust may take their cases to trial.
At Spivak Law Firm, we are effective negotiators who help parents craft their own child custody orders. We are also trained trial lawyers experienced at aggressively litigating cases to reach our client’s goals.
For a free consultation with an experienced child custody lawyer, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
The Needs and Rights of Children
Ideally children should be parented cooperatively. They should be permitted and encouraged to form the best possible relationship with both parents and develop health connections with the families of both parents as well. If children feel safe and secure in their primary relationships, they are likely to be successful, happy, and well-adjusted. The goal is to establish a base from which children can continue their uninterrupted healthy growth patterns.
Every child has the right to:
- Develop a relationship with both parents
- Exist in a world free of parent-driven conflict
- Go back and forth to visit freely between both parents
- Spend time and engage in activities with both parents
- Have a comfortable and safe space in both homes
- Expect consistent behavior from both parents
- Have the major issues (medical, legal, educational) shared with both parents
- Not ever be put in a position to choose between their parents
- Sometimes make their own choices and to be heard
- Be a child
To speak with an experienced child custody attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Shared Custody Requires Good Communication
In Allegheny County, it is presumed that parents will share legal custody of their children. Legal custody refers to major decisions involving the child, such as medical, educational, and religious.
Parents who share legal custody are encouraged to engage in unemotional communication when keeping one another informed about their children and making joint decisions about them.
This does not mean that you and the other parent will necessarily agree on issues. It does mean that making such decisions should not interfere with your ability to work together.
Old “hot-buttons” can change the focus of effective communication to destructive, unproductive arguments. Effective communication is not about winning or revenge, but rather a fundamental pathway to working cooperatively together.
To speak with an experienced child custody attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.