Pgh Child Custody Lawyer
Understanding Family Partnerships
The goal of a family partnership is to nurture family relationships even under the difficult circumstances of divorce and separation. Basic family partnership principles include:
- Maintain a business-like relationship with the other parent and communicate accordingly
- Focus on the needs of your children and the strengths of your relationship with them
- Set boundaries and respect the other parent’s boundaries
- Protect your children from adult issues
- Never allow your children to become your best friends
- Do not use your children as messengers
- Keep your children out of the middle
- Do not make negative comments about the other parent
- Never ask your children to take sides
- Allow your children to develop their own safe relationship with the other parent, regardless of what you feel about them
- Avoid supermom / superdad syndrome of competitive parenting
- Avoid conflict in front of your children
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation in all child custody matters. To speak with an experienced family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Protecting Children Produced By Rape
The Pennsylvania Legislature appears poised to make it easier for a woman who has become pregnant as a result of rape to have her assaulter’s parental rights terminated while maintaining his obligation to pay child support.
The bill, which has bipartisan support, requires the courts to accept requests by rape victims that their rapists not receive custody of children conceived through the assault, unless the child is old enough and agrees to the custody arrangement. The legislation at the same time maintains the rapist’s liability for child support payments if parental rights have been terminated because of a conviction for raping the other parent.
Rape causes more than 32,000 pregnancies among U.S. women each year, according to the Coalition Against Rape.
Spivak Law Firm has proven a leader in advocating for women’s rights, publishing an article in the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette back in 2012 on the issue of protecting women who conceive through rape.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation in all family law matters, including: 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.
Don’t Let A PFA Stop You From Being A Parent
Under Pennsylvania law, you can file for custody even if there is a Protection From Abuse (PFA) restraining order against you. If the PFA does not allege abuse against a child, you may even be entitled to primary or shared custody.
If the PFA does include allegations of abuse against a child, you still may get time with your child depending on the circumstances. In such cases, there may be a period of time where your custody visits are supervised. But supervised custody tends to be temporary, so hang in there and you’ll eventually see your custody time increase.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation in all PFA and child custody matters. We represent clients in Pittsburgh and all nearby counties including: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Washington County, and Westmoreland County. Call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Shielding Kids In High-Conflict Divorce
Parents who do not engage in physical violence but do engage in hostile communications must understand the negative impact of such conduct on their child. Every effort should be made to shield the child from the hostilities. Proposing that all communications be by email or text is one way to do so; however, it is often necessary to put boundaries around such communications.
When it is financially viable, parents in high-conflict situations should use the expertise of skilled practitioners in co-parent counseling and meet regularly to address ongoing issues.
To speak with an Allegheny County family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Helping Children Cope With Divorce
Moving between homes can be a stressful time for children. The easier a parent can make it, the better it is for them. Transition can also be difficult for you as a parent, because you’re giving up your children for a period of time. Family therapists encourage divorced parents to give their children “adjustment time” when transitioning between homes. Here are some tips for easing the transition:
- Give children something to look forward to when they come home, for example: a special snack, alone time, a TV program to watch, and so forth.
- Involve your children in what they need to do when they come home, for example: reading, doing homework, checking email, etc.
- Ask your children if there’s anything you can do to make it easier.
To speak with a Pittsburgh family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.