Pgh Criminal Defense Lawyer
Erase Your Criminal Record
If you want to clean your criminal record for an upcoming employment, education, or housing opportunity, you should begin the process as soon as possible.
Spivak Law Firm routinely helps people erase their criminal records through a formal expungement process. What surprises many clients is how long the expungement process takes: about a year from start to finish.
At Spivak Law Firm, we move your case forward as quickly as possible to avoid unnecessary delay, and we update you at each step along the way.
Spivak Law Firm expunges criminal records for a low, one-time fee. For more information, call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Don’t Let A PFA Ruin Your Life
A PFA is a court order that aims to protect victims of domestic violence. A PFA can:
- Restrict you from contacting the accuser;
- Evict you from your home;
- Award the accuser temporary custody of your children;
- Require you to pay child support; and
- Send you to jail if you are even accused of violating it.
Don’t make the mistake of blindly accepting a PFA. The consequences of a PFA are harsh and long-lasting, as a PFA can remain in effect for up to three years.
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.
NFL and Domestic Abuse
An advocacy group is urging the Cincinnati Bengals to speak out against domestic violence after the team drafted a player who punched a woman in the face.
The Bengals are not the only team receiving backlash. In the 2017 NFL Draft, at least a half-dozen players who have been accused of physical or sexual assaults were welcomed to the NFL.
By ignoring these issues, the NFL encourages the cycle of violence and undermines the importance of protecting domestic-abuse victims, according to the group.
Spivak Law Firm helps victims of domestic violence get the legal protections they need at Protection From Abuse (PFA) hearings and by working with prosecutors on criminal domestic-violence cases. To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 ortoll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA Consequences
Because courts overwhelmingly grant Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders, the system itself is frequently abused by people seeking leverage in divorce and child-custody actions.
In fact, the mere accusation of abuse can devastate a person’s life and reputation.
In Pennsylvania, a PFA can:
- Evict you from your home;
- Take away your firearms;
- Appear on your permanent record;
- Prevent you from seeing your children; and
- Result in serious criminal charges.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive defense at PFA hearings. We have successfully defended many people whose careers were at risk, including; police officers, corrections officers, homeland-security officers, teachers, and nurses.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law and criminal defense with a special focus on domestic violence and Protection From Abuse (PFA). Call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA and Same-Sex Couples
In May, Louisiana lawmakers voted to remove the requirement that a victim be of the opposite sex of the alleged offender to be considered a victim of domestic violence.
Representative Patrick Connick, the author of the bill, has argued that because the U.S. Supreme Court has legalized gay marriage, same-sex couples should be receiving equal protection under the law.
In Louisiana, a person charged with committing domestic violence is held for 72 hours, in part to allow the victim to find a safe place to stay to escape further abuse. LGBT victims haven’t had that protection, which already puts them at risk.
Spivak Law Firm helps victims of domestic violence get the legal protections they need at Protection From Abuse (PFA) hearings and by working with prosecutors on criminal domestic-violence cases. To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Expunging Your Criminal Record
In the United States, only those who are convicted of the most serious crimes get life sentences. But everyone who enters the criminal justice system can be marked for life.
Even a minor interaction with the justice system can leave someone with a criminal record and a permanent barrier to a job, education or an occupational license.
Having a record can also affect housing, as federal housing law grants local authorities wide discretion, and many use it to keep people with a single arrest out of public housing.
At Spivak Law Firm, we aim to clear the arrests from your criminal record so you can move on with your life. For more information, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA Orders in Pennsylvania
Q: What can a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order do?
A: In Pennsylvania, a Protection From Abuse Order can provide many protections, including:
- Making the abuser leave the home.
- Ordering the abuser to pay child support.
- Prohibiting the abuser from contacting the victim.
- Forcing the abuser to relinquish any firearms.
A PFA, also known as a restraining order, is a powerful tool to curb domestic violence.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law with a special focus on domestic violence and Protection From Abuse (PFA). Call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA May Carry Financial Penalties
A Protection from Abuse (PFA) Order is a powerful tool for restricting the rights of the accused. In addition to prohibiting contact with the victim, the Court may order the abuser to pay for reasonable losses suffered by the victim, including: medical, dental, relocation, and counseling expenses. The court may also order the defendant to pay for ongoing financial needs such as health insurance and mortgage payments.
If you have filed, or have been served with a PFA, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
New Pennsylvania Record-Sealing Law
Pennsylvania recently passed a law that seals minor criminal records. Supporters of the legislation hope it will reduce recidivism and open doors for those who have turned their lives around.
Under the legislation, people with sealed records would not have to disclose their criminal histories. Removing this barrier allows more Pennsylvanians to live without the stigma of a criminal record.
The new law, which applies in limited cases, for the first time allows Pennsylvanians to seal convictions for misdemeanor-level offenses.
At Spivak Law Firm, we aim to clear the arrests from your criminal record so you can move on with your life. For more information, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
5 Tips For PFA Defendants
If you have been served a Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order, you must adhere to each of the stipulations. Violating a PFA can result in serious criminal penalties.
Here are 5 tips for PFA defendants to avoid violations:
- Do not contact the plaintiff in any way.
- Avoid all places where you know the plaintiff goes.
- Do not drive past the plaintiff’s residence.
- Do not attempt to contact the plaintiff through their friends or family.
- Retain an experienced PFA defense attorney.
Spivak Law Firm provides aggressive representation at PFA hearings in Pittsburgh and all surrounding counties, including: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Indiana County, Washington County, and Westmoreland County.
To speak with an experienced PFA defense attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or (800) 545-9390.