Pgh Divorce Lawyer
Tips for Co-Parenting
For divorced or separated couples, coordinating schedules for the children’s school schedule can be challenging.
But factoring in extracurricular activities, doctor’s appointments, and play dates can be especially tough.
To keep everyone on the same page, consider setting a family meeting once a month to discuss your children and their schedules.
You may find it easier for you and your ex-spouse to hash out schedules sitting down all at once rather than with scattered phone calls and emails.
At the end of the meeting, consider giving your children a copy of the schedule so they are aware of what to expect.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law: 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.
Brangelina Custody War
America’s sweethearts Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are among the latest celebrities to split. In addition to divorce, Jolie filed for shared legal and sole physical custody of their six minor children.
Legal custody refers to a parent’s right to make decisions regarding the upbringing of the children, including religion, education, medical care, etc.
Physical custody involves where the children are physically residing. If Jolie wins, the children will reside with her and potentially only visit with Pitt.
But courts seldom award sole physical custody to one parent, unless there are findings that the other parent is unfit to have the children in their physical custody. Jolie’s actions were harsh and designed to severely restrict Pitt’s rights to his children. Hopefully, for the kids’ sakes, they will have equal access to both parents.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law, including: divorce, child custody, child support, and PFA hearings. To speak with an experienced family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Child Custody: Fast Food v. Organics
You may not like that your ex feeds the kids fast food while you prepare homemade organic meals. But try not to sweat the small stuff. While your ex-‘s household rules may aggravate you, they usually aren’t issues worth bringing to court.
Such disagreements over child custody decisions may exacerbate tensions between you and your ex, making co-parenting more difficult.
Moreover, you want to avoid irritating the judge by arguing over what will likely be deemed as superficial or petty disagreements.
Spivak Law Firm handles all family law matters, including divorce, child custody, child 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.
Dating After Divorce
Dating after divorce may be difficult, especially when children are involved. You must adjust to the idea of no longer being married, and your children must do the same. Ensure that your children have had adequate time to recover from the divorce before introducing them to a new partner.
When sufficient time has passed, it may be best to introduce the children to your new partner while doing an activity the kids enjoy.
But be sensitive to your children’s feelings. If you believe your children are struggling more than is reasonable, it may be beneficial to seek help from a counselor.
To speak with an experienced family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Limit Stress In Divorce
Divorce can be one of the most stressful times in a person’s life. You may take comfort in the fact that family and friends have taken your side in the matter, but this may create conflict. What appears to be emotional support may actually be encouragement to fight and argue.
It is best to enter negotiations, or even litigation, with a level head in order to avoid making rash decisions that are not necessarily in your best interest. If you (or someone close to you) are in the process of divorce, lend support. But avoid causing conflict.
To speak with an experienced divorce attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Talking Divorce To Kids
Although there is a great deal of literature discussing the impact of divorce on children, there really is no clear cut way to break the news to them. Each family unit is unique, but the following five tips may make it less traumatic for both you and your children:
- Discuss what you plan to tell the children;
- Agree on what you do not plan to tell the children;
- Tell your children together with your ex-spouse;
- Reinforce to the children that the divorce is not their fault;
- Ensure that the children know the divorce is not reversible.
Spivak Law Firm handles all family law matters, including: divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, and PFA hearings. To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Child Custody In Cases Involving Rape
Mothers of children conceived by rape can be forced to share custody of the child with their rapists. Many states allow courts to terminate the parental rights of rapists, but most of them require that the men first be convicted. However, less than one-fifth of rapes are even reported, and only about 5 percent of those result in convictions.
Last year, Congress passed the Rape Survivor Child Custody Act, which pledges money for states that pass laws denying parental rights to men if the mothers show in family court that they have been raped. In family court, the victims need only prove that the rape occurred by “clear and convincing” evidence – not the tougher “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard used in criminal courts.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate representation in all family law and criminal defense matters. Call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Understanding Marital Property
Q: I always drove the Toyota and my husband always drove the Ford. Both cars were bought during the marriage, but only my husband’s name is on the titles. Now that we’re getting a divorce, my husband says both cars belong to him. Is he right?
A: No. Under Pennsylvania law, virtually all property acquired by either spouse during the marriage is deemed marital property subject to equitable distribution by the court or through a marital settlement agreement. Thus, it does not matter that the cars are titled only in your husband’s name. The cars are marital property jointly owned by both spouses.
To speak with an experienced Allegheny County divorce attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Reduce Waiting Period for Divorce
If one spouse does not consent to a divorce, then the spouse seeking the divorce must wait two years before requesting a final decree. Currently Pennsylvania is considering legislation to reduce the waiting period for a contested divorce to one year.
Pennsylvania House Bill 380 calls for reducing the waiting period for a no-fault divorce based on separation from two years to one.
Proponents of the legislation say that expediting divorce will enable courts to focus greater attention on child custody disputes.
“Where the divorce is inevitable,” attorney Maryann Modesti testified at a recent meeting of the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee, “allowing the family to focus on the challenge of co-parenting as divorced parents is better than the emotional toll of a delay in the divorce litigation.”
Currently many other states impose a short waiting period than two years. For instance: Maryland has a one-year waiting period; New York has a six-month waiting period; and West Virginia imposes no waiting period at all.
To speak with an experienced Pittsburgh family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Fathers’ Rights In Child Custody Cases
Is there a bias against men in custody court?
Is it the court’s knee-jerk reaction to give primary physical custody to the Mother?
Many people believe that yes, of course, women have an inherent advantage in child custody disputes. As a result, men may talk themselves out of seeking time with their kids. Do not make this mistake.
Spivak Law Firm fights hard for father’s rights. We believe firmly that, in most cases, parents should have equal access to their children.
We have successfully united many fathers with their kids, ensuring a shared custody schedule, shared holiday time, and shared vacation time.
To speak with an experienced child custody and fathers’ rights attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.