Pittsburgh PFA Lawyer
Domestic Violence: Control and Fear
Domestic violence often follows a pattern in which an abuser seeks to control every aspect of a victim’s life. Experts often refer to domestic violence as “intimate terrorism.”
“The perpetrator is engaging in a general pattern of control over the victim – her finances, her social contacts, the clothes she wears,” Deborah Epstein, who runs Georgetown University Law Center’s domestic violence clinic, recently told The New York Times.
Violence is the abuser’s means of enforcing that control – and of punishing any attempts to break it.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law and criminal defense with a focus on domestic violence and child custody. Call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Prepare for Your PFA Hearing
If a Protection from Abuse Order (PFA) has been filed against you, it is important to begin preparing your defense as soon as possible. The person who filed against you will be prepared to testify and present evidence, so it is important that you present testimony and evidence to rebut the accusations against you.
Preserve text messages, emails, voicemails, and audio recordings that tend to support your version of events. If you have witnesses who were present at the time of the incident, it is important that they appear at the hearing to support your position.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive defense at PFA hearings in Pittsburgh and all nearby counties, including: Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Indiana, Washington, and Westmoreland.
If you’ve been served with a PFA order, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Charged with Harassment?
Break-ups are painful, but repeated calls and texts to an ex, especially late at night, could lead to harassment charges filed against you.
Pennsylvania law defines harassment as acting with the intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person, which includes:
- Violent physical contact, or attempt of violent physical contact;
- Following the other person in a public place;
- Repeated acts serving no legitimate purpose;
- Communicating any lewd, lascivious, threatening or obscene words, language, drawings or caricatures;
- Communicating repeatedly in an anonymous manner; or
- Communicating at inconvenient hours.
If you have been charged with harassment, immediately cease all forms of contact with the alleged victim. Continued attempts at communication could demonstrate to a judge that you intend to continue the behavior, thereby hurting your chances of getting the criminal charges dismissed.
To speak with an attorney experienced in criminal defense and family law, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Charged with Assault?
An emotionally charged argument could lead to assault charges, even if you didn’t physically harm the other person. A mere threat of bodily injury could result in criminal charges such as simple assault or terroristic threats—both of which are misdemeanors that could result in jail time and remain on your record for life.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law and criminal defense with a special focus on domestic violence and child custody.
Charged with assault? Terroristic threats? Harassment? Stalking? PFA violation? To speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA and Criminal Charges
If you’ve been accused of perpetrating domestic violence or child abuse, you may be facing a Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order and criminal charges such as assault, harassment, stalking, or terroristic threats.
At Spivak Law Firm, we generally advise our clients to continue the PFA hearing until after the criminal case is resolved. The district attorney could use the PFA hearing transcript against you in criminal court.
Based in Pittsburgh, Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive representation for clients in Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Indiana County, Greene County, Washington County, and Westmoreland County.
If you face a PFA or criminal domestic-violence charges, call Spivak Law Firm to schedule a free consultation at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Pennsylvania Mayor Faces PFA
Even elected officials aren’t immune from Protection from Abuse (PFA) Orders.
Williamsport Mayor Gabriel J. Campana recently agreed to modify and extend the Temporary PFA placed against him by his wife. The small-town mayor was evicted from his home and prohibited from directly contacting his wife, except through email or text to arrange for child custody.
In Pennsylvania, a PFA is a powerful took that can:
- Evict you from your home;
- Restrict you from your children;
- Prohibit you from purchasing firearms; and
- Get you fired from your job.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive representation at PFA hearings. For a free consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at: (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA: Help for Victims
Under current federal law, domestic-violence victims risk eviction from public housing for making excessive calls to 9-1-1.
Spivak Law Firm supports amending the Fair Housing Act to safeguard such victims from being punished for simply seeking police protections.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status.
Spivak Law Firm routinely represents plaintiffs and defendants in Protection from Abuse (PFA) matters in Pittsburgh and all surrounding counties, including: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Washington County, and Westmoreland County. Call us today at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Accused of Domestic Abuse?
Are you accused of domestic violence or child abuse?
Have you been served with a Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order?
Have you been arrested or cited by police?
Are you under investigation by Children Youth and Families (CYF)?
Is your ex seeking sole or primary physical custody of your children?
Is your ex trying to terminate your parental rights?
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law and criminal defense with a focus on cases involving child custody and domestic violence.
We provide strong, aggressive defense at Protection From Abuse (PFA), Children Youth and Families (CYF) and criminal domestic violence hearings.
We fight back against heinous abuse allegations, protecting your reputation and preserving your child-custody rights.
Our child custody cases are high-conflict with parents who communicate poorly, make false accusations of neglect or abuse, and seek to alienate the other parent from the children.
Our PFA cases are high stakes with parents who risk losing their children, their homes, their liberty, and their employment. We have successfully represented police and military officers, nurses, teachers, and other professionals subject to criminal background checks. For these people, their careers are on the line.
If you’ve been falsely accused of abuse, call Spivak Law Firm today. We treat our clients with dignity and compassion. We build the strongest possible defense so you can get your life back.
For a free consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Served with a PFA On Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is a time to relax and feast with family and friends, but everyone has a relative with whom they don’t quite get along. Spending extended periods of time together could lead to conflict.
If you’re served with a Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order during the holidays, call Spivak Law Firm to speak with an experienced PFA attorney. A PFA is a powerful tool that can evict you from your home, restrict you from your kids, threaten your job, take away your guns, and lead to your arrest.
Many attorneys are not accessible during the holidays, but Spivak Law Firm always remains available by telephone even on Thanksgiving Day. If you’ve been served with a PFA, we understand that you are likely under significant stress. We are here to help.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive defense at PFA hearings in Pittsburgh and all surrounding counties, including: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Greene County, Indiana County, Washington County, and Westmoreland County.
For a free consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Child Custody and the Holidays
The holiday season is a fun but stressful time for families, especially if the parents have recently separated or divorced.
Straying from tradition during the holidays is difficult, but consider developing new traditions that accommodate your respective holiday schedules.
For instance, if you have the children on Christmas Eve, and your ex has them on Christmas Day, consider exchanging gifts that night. If your ex gets the kids for Thanksgiving this year, consider having your turkey dinner on a different day.
After all, the most important thing about the holidays is spending quality time with family.
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.