Pgh PFA Lawyer
Divorce Process In Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, most divorce cases proceed with litigation in which each spouse retains an attorney to represent his or her interest.
There are many opportunities to negotiate a settlement agreement resolving all economic claims.
If there are significant assets and debts in the marital estate, the attorneys will often engage in discovery – a formal process for obtaining all the relevant information.
Each side will file an inventory of their marital estate with the Court, then assign values to each asset and debt based on financial documentation.
If necessary, a family-court judge will attempt to mediate a settlement between the spouses. If no agreement is reached, there will be a hearing to determine a fair division of the marital estate.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law, including: divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, and Protection From Abuse (PFA).
To schedule a consultation with an experienced Pittsburgh divorce attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA And Guns: Law Requires Police Involvement
Pennsylvania has adopted tougher rules for guns in domestic-abuse cases.
A new law requires that people subjected to a Final Protection From Abuse (PFA) order must turn over their guns to police.
PFA defendants will not longer be able to merely let a family member or friend take possession of the firearms.
For years, Pennsylvania’s “third-party safekeeping” provision allowed PFA defendants to choose a person to hold onto their guns. Police would run a criminal-background check to ensure the person was permitted to possess firearms.
During legislative hearings, the Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association expressed concerns about the cost of storing guns.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive representation at PFA hearings and all criminal domestic-violence hearings. We routinely handle PFAs and PFA violations, as well as criminal cases alleging simple assault, harassment, stalking, reckless endangerment, and terroristic threats.
To schedule a free consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Child Custody: Kids Thrive In Routines
Between school life and home life, children of divorce need the consistency of a routine. The day-to-day life of a child is important to their overall development, and studies show that having structure at home is linked to academic success.
Having a routine can also help a child maintain a sense of normalcy despite the chaos of divorce.
Maintaining a set homework time and bedtime are two routines that can provide normalcy to a child.
In addition to routine, hiring an experienced divorce attorney can help you create a child custody plan that works for your family.
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.
What Is Child Support?
Child support is money a parent pays to help provide food, clothing and other things for his or her child.
Child support may include:
- Medical support
- Payment of uncovered medical bills
- Contributions to child-care costs
- Contributions to extra-curricular activity expenses
The amount of child support you owe or are entitled to receive depends on a variety of factors, such as the number of children, the child custody arrangement, and how much income each parents earns.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation in all family law matters, including: divorce, child custody, child support, and Protection From Abuse (PFA).
To schedule a free consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Divorce: Cheating Spouses
Divorce often occurs when there are allegations of cheating.
But proving such allegations rarely affects the divorce process.
Under Pennsylvania law, there is no need to prove fault to obtain a divorce.
You might still have to pay alimony to your ex, even after proving that he or she engaged in an extra-marital affair that led to the divorce.
At Spivak Law Firm, we provide strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation in all areas of family law, including: divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, alimony, counsel fees, and dividing assets and debts.
To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA Prohibits Even Friendly Contact
A Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order is granted based on allegations of abusive contact. This includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, threats of abuse, harassment, and stalking.
Once a PFA Order becomes effective, it prohibits all contact with the alleged victim.
Even non-abusive contact is strictly forbidden.
People are commonly arrested for violating PFAs by simply texting them a message that is well-intended and non-threatening.
But even a non-threatening, technical violation of a PFA may result in your arrest.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation at PFA hearings in Pittsburgh and all surrounding counties, including: Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Crawford, Fayette, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Washington and Westmoreland.
If you have been served with a PFA or face criminal charges for violating a PFA, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Protecting Kids In Divorce
Divorce can be one of the most difficult challenges in a person’s life. You are learning to cope with a divided family, and you may harbor ill feelings toward your ex-spouse.
As tempting as it may be, it is important to never vent about your ex-spouse to your children. Consider reserving those feelings for friends or counselors.
Remind yourself that the issues between you and your ex-spouse are between the two of you.
Avoid putting your children in the middle of conflict and making them feel as though they have to choose sides.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation in all family law matters. Call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA Destroys Reputations
A Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order can ruin a person’s reputation.
A PFA is a restraining order that alleges abusive behavior, such as: physical violence, sexual violence, harassment, threats of violence, or stalking.
In Pennsylvania, most defendants first learn about the PFA when a police officer serves them with the Order.
This can be humiliating when done at work where colleagues and employers are immediately made aware of the issue.
It’s no less embarrassing when served at home in front of neighbors and family.
The PFA petition, which details the alleged abuse, is an easily accessible public document.
The petition may contain lies or exaggerations, though it appears official because it is part of a formal Order of Court signed by a judge.
At Spivak Law Firm, we provide strong defense at PFA hearings. We also help people erase PFA petitions and orders from the public record when possible.
If you’ve been served with a PFA, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Pennsylvania Law Affects Gun Owners
In Pennsylvania, people convicted of misdemeanor domestic-violence crimes will be required to relinquish their guns to police within 24 hours.
The new law applies to people convicted of:
- Simple Assault
- Terroristic Threats
- Aggravated Assault
- Endangering The Welfare of A Child
- Recklessly Endangering Another Person
- Child Abuse
- Stalking
- Harassment
The new law could have a devastating impact on people whose livelihoods depend on the ability to carry a firearm such as police officers and other law-enforcement officials.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive defense for people accused of domestic abuse. For a free consultation, call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA Destroys Careers
If you’ve been served with a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order, your career may be at risk.
The PFA petition alleging abusive behavior is a public record that may be viewed by your employer.
You may be especially at risk if your employment requires background checks such as nurses, teachers, coaches, and daycare providers.
Others at risk include police officers, security guards and others whose jobs require them to possess a firearm.
Under newly restrictive laws in Pennsylvania, gun possession is expressly prohibited so long as the PFA remains active.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive defense at PFA hearings in Pittsburgh and all surrounding counties, including: Allegheny, Fayette, Beaver, Butler. Indiana, Mercer, Washington, and Westmoreland.
We have helped to save the careers and restore the reputations of police officers, homeland-security officers, state troopers, registered nurses, teachers, coaches, and government employees.
Served with a PFA? Call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.