Pittsburgh Child Custody Lawyers
3 Benefits of Collaborative Divorce
Collaborative divorce can help you resolve your conflict, and it provides a number of advantages over going to court, including:
- Collaborative divorce is often less expensive than litigating through the courts.
- The process is more flexible, as you can determine your own meeting times to accommodate your work schedule rather than having to follow the court’s schedule.
- Your children are better shielded from conflict, as they avoid the stress of going to court.
To learn more about collaborative divorce, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390 to schedule a consultation.
Avoid Conflict in Divorce
The decision to divorce does not end the hurt feelings and conflict between spouses. The animosity often spills over into the divorce process and can affect your ability to parent effectively. But allowing conflict to take charge of your divorce can prove costly.
One of the best ways to keep legal fees to a minimum is by cooperating with your ex-spouse, if possible. This does not mean giving in to every demand, but to simply make an effort to forgive and remain civil with one another. You and your ex-spouse may benefit from attending co-parenting classes together or even seeing a counselor, which may limit your emotional and financial stress.
Spivak Law Firm handles all family law matters, including: divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, and PFAs. To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Child Custody and Step-Parents
Moving forward as a family after divorce or separation can be more difficult when step-parents are involved. To avoid conflict between your ex-spouse and the step-parent of your children, consider the following three tips:
- Talk to the children together as a family, assuring them that their step-parent is not a replacement, but another person to care for them.
- Set boundaries ahead of time, and discuss the role step-parents will play in the lives of the children.
- Work together as a cohesive family unit; do not argue over the role of the step-parent in front of the children.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law, including: child custody, child support, divorce, 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.
Harassment In Family Court
Leaving an abusive relationship should put an end to the abuse, but that is frequently not the case when there are children involved. The abusive parent may utilize the child custody courts to harass the victim, even when the abused party has a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order.
The courts often favor shared custody schedules, which are unfortunately ideal for abusers, as this affords them the opportunity to continue controlling the abused spouse through the children.
Because the courts often favor shared custody, it is crucial to speak to an experienced child custody attorney who may develop a workable agreement that keeps parental conflict to a minimum.
Spivak Law Firm’s attorney has extensive experience with child custody cases involving domestic violence. To schedule a consultation call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Don’t Spank Your Kids
Under Pennsylvania law, parents are permitted to use corporal punishment if it is for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the welfare of their child.
But the force used on the child cannot create a substantial risk of death, serious bodily injury, disfigurement, extreme pain, or mental distress.
A spanking that leaves a mark or bruise could result in a Protection from Abuse Order (PFA), a Child, Youth and Families (CYF) investigation, or even criminal charges for child abuse.
Parents engaged in child-custody disputes should consider avoiding all forms of corporal punishment to avoid allegations of abuse.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate representation in all family-law and criminal-defense matters. To schedule a consultation, call (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Sharing Custody of Infants
Studies show that infants are best able to create healthy relationships with both parents when they spend regular time with each.
This means that both parents should go no longer than a few days without seeing the child.
There should be daily communication regarding the child’s eating and sleeping patterns, medical developments, as well as any noteworthy milestones.
If there is a high level of conflict between you and the other parent, consider keeping track of these updates in a notebook, which you may pass back and forth during exchanges.
Spivak Law Firm handles all family law matters, including: child custody, child support, divorce, spousal support, Protection From Abuse (PFA), and Children Youth and Families (CYF). If your ex is denying you regular and frequent contact with your child, call Spivak Law Firm today at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Child Custody and the Holidays
Accommodating child custody schedules during the holidays can seem impossible due to all the traveling, cooking, shopping, and parties. Preparation and planning are the keys for reducing stress related to child custody during the holidays. Here are three common solutions for sharing holiday time with your children.
- Share the holiday so the children may spend half of the day with you and half of the day with your ex-spouse.
- Exercise holiday time on an alternating schedule.
- Celebrate the holiday on different days.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law with a focus on high-conflict child custody and allegations of domestic abuse. We handle: child custody, child support, divorce, spousal support, Protection From Abuse (PFA), and Children Youth and Families (CYF).
To schedule a consultation with an experienced family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Cheer For Your Kids
Kids love extracurricular activities such as sports, music, and dance, but parents engaged in high-conflict custody disputes can spoil the fun.
To ease some of the tension, consider planning ahead with your ex-spouse.
Perhaps you may both attend extracurricular events at the same time, but situate yourselves on opposite ends of the field.
Maybe you could designate days that Mom and Dad will attend separately.
Above all, ensure that your children are informed of the schedule as well, and that they know when Mom and Dad are present cheering them on.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law, including: child custody, child support, divorce, spousal support, and Protection From Abuse (PFA).
To speak with an experienced child custody attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Expanding Your Child Custody Schedule
Young children should have frequent contact with both parents, which includes engaging in daily routines. When planning your custody schedule, you should consider the following:
- The child’s temperament;
- Any special needs of the child;
- The amount of conflict between you and the other parent;
- The child’s familiarity with the households;
- The childcare provided by each parent.
If you had less involvement in your child’s daily routine, you may consider exercising custody on a gradual basis to acclimate your child to the change. But once you are more familiar with your child’s daily routine, you may begin exercising more overnights.
To speak with a child custody attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Domestic Violence Increases Wage Gap
Men make more money than women over the course of their lifetimes due in part to the disparate number of domestic violence incidents committed against women, according to a recent report from McKinsey and Company.
Women who suffer violence often miss work, become less productive, and lose their jobs or get picked over for a promotion.
The domestic violence perpetrator may further disrupt her work and embarrass her by calling repeatedly and showing up to make a scene.
Such behaviors have further increased the wage gap between men and women, the report states.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law and criminal defense with a focus on domestic violence and child custody. To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.