Pgh Criminal Defense Lawyer
Summary Offenses and Expungements
Summary offenses are low-level criminal offenses. They include public intoxication, disorderly conduct, public urination, harassment, and cruelty to animals.
If you’re charged with a summary offense, we recommend contesting the charges by pleading ‘not guilty’ and hiring Spivak Law Firm to represent you in court.
We have helped many people charged with summary offenses, then successfully expunged, or erased, the charges from their criminal records.
At Spivak Law Firm, we do not judge our clients. We provide strong, aggressive representation to help them move on with their lives.
Call us today at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA Orders Restrict All Contact
If you’re served with a Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order, take it seriously. A PFA can evict you from your home and restrict you from your child. If you’re even accused of violating the order, you may face criminal charges and spend a night or two in jail.
At Spivak Law Firm, we’ve helped hundreds of people facing allegations of domestic abuse. If you’re served with a PFA, we urge you to follow the order by having no contact with the person who obtained the PFA against you. Even friendly communication could lead to criminal charges.
Do not call, text, or email your accuser. Do not contact your accuser via social media. If you see your accuser in public while the PFA remains active, leave the area immediately. Direct family members and friends that they cannot intervene on your behalf to mediate the dispute. Otherwise, you may be arrested based on third-party contact.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive representation at PFA hearings in Pittsburgh and all surrounding counties, including: Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Indiana, Washington, and Westmoreland. For a free consultation with an experienced PFA attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day From Spivak Law Firm
St. Patrick’s Day is a great time to enjoy family and friends. The parade in downtown Pittsburgh is one of the largest in the entire country. Bars on the Southside, Oakland, Lawrenceville and across the city offer drink deals to attract patrons out having fun.
Unfortunately, the night does not end well for everybody.
Each year, Spivak Law Firm helps people who face legal problems related to their behavior on St. Patrick’s Day.
We have successfully represented people facing criminal charges such as: public intoxication, disorderly conduct, public urination, underage drinking, simple assault, and drunk driving.
We have helped hundreds of people facing allegations of criminal domestic-violence and Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders.
At Spivak Law Firm, we handle all matters involving criminal defense and family law.
We wish everybody a happy, safe time on St. Patrick’s Day. But if you or a family member or friend needs legal help, we encourage you to call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Stalking and Social Media
Connecticut recently passed a bill that strengthens the state’s domestic-violence laws to protect victims from emotional abuse and online stalking.
The bill includes language to protect victims who suffer “emotional distress” as well as physical abuse.
Under previous law, victims had to prove they fear for their physical safety in order to be protected under anti-stalking statutes.
Importantly, this legislation is the first to include protection for victims against stalking through electronic or social media.
Connecticut joins 29 other states that have eliminated fear of physical safety as the sole requirement to meet the definition of stalking.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law with a focus on domestic violence and Protection From Abuse (PFA). Call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Reporting Abuse
In Pennsylvania, medical practitioners are not required to report all disclosures of abuse or assault. But they must report child abuse and elder abuse.
The same can’t be said for some universities and colleges such as the University of Pittsburgh, which require faculty to report all incidences of assault.
This is due in part because students are protected under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Federally funded educational facilities must take action to prevent further incidents of sex discrimination against students (including sexual assault and harassment).
For a free consultation, call Spivak Law Firm to speak with our experienced PFA attorney at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Expungements for College Students
Student loan debt is at an all-time high, which makes landing a job after graduation even more important. Unfortunately, employers running criminal background checks can further complicate the job-hunting process, making it imperative to maintain a clean criminal record.
If a night of partying leads to criminal charges being placed against you, it is important to begin the expungement process as soon as possible.
You may be eligible for an expungement if:
- The criminal charges against you were withdrawn or dismissed;
- You have been free of arrest or conviction for five years following a summary offense conviction; or
- You completed an accelerated rehabilitative disposition (ARD) program on a first-time criminal charge.
Spivak Law Firm routinely helps people of all ages clean their criminal records for employment reasons. Call us for a free consultation at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Final PFA Hearings
Q: Should I go to the final PFA hearing?
A: Yes. If you do not appear at the final hearing, the court may enter a PFA against you lasting the maximum duration of three years.
As part of the PFA order, the court may evict you from your home, prohibit you from possessing firearms, and deny you custody and visitation rights of your minor children.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive representation at PFA hearings in Pittsburgh and all surrounding counties including: Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Indiana, Washington, and Westmoreland.
To schedule an appointment with an experienced PFA lawyer, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA and Child Custody
In Pennsylvania, courts often give a PFA plaintiff sole custody over the parties’ children until the PFA hearing. This can be devastating to a PFA defendant, who may go weeks having limited or no contact with his or her kids.
The parties’ attorneys may negotiate a child custody arrangement as part of a court order. Thus, it is important that your PFA lawyer have experience handling child custody matters to get you the most possible time with your kids.
At Spivak Law Firm, we work hard to ensure that our PFA clients get substantial time with their children as soon as possible. We handle all family law matters, including: child custody, child support, spousal support, divorce, and PFA. For a free consultation, call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Falsely Accused of Abuse?
Q: I have been falsely accused of abuse – can you help me?
A: Yes. The PFA system itself is sometimes abused. People may seek a PFA just to gain leverage in a divorce or child custody matter. As a result, innocent people suffer.
If you have been served with a PFA, your hearing may be less than 10 days away.
Spivak Law Firm provides aggressive representation at PFA hearings. We strongly defends people against accusations of domestic violence or child abuse. If you have been accused of abuse, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Expunging Summary Offenses
A criminal record may hurt your educational and employment opportunities, especially if you’re seeking jobs that require a criminal background check. Expungement refers to the removal of an arrest or conviction from your permanent criminal record.
Under Pennsylvania law, a conviction for a summary offense may be expunged after five years. If you were convicted of a summary offense more than five years ago, it may be possible to remove the conviction from your criminal record so that you can move on with your life.
At Spivak Law Firm, we routinely represent people charged with summary offenses and get their criminal records erased. To schedule a free consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.