Pittsburgh PFA Lawyers
Avoid the Stigma of a Final PFA Order
A Final Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order is an indicator of abusive behavior that may remain on your record for life.
One of the main reasons to hire a PFA lawyer is to attempt to avoid the long-term stigma and negative consequences of a Final PFA Order.
A PFA can evict you from your home, restrict you from your kids, prohibit you from owning firearms, get you terminated from your job.
Spivak Law Firm has helped hundreds of people get the PFA dropped. We provide strong defense at PFA hearings.
For a free consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA Orders and Supervised Custody
Protection From Abuse (PFA) Orders commonly restrict parents from their children.
In some cases, while a PFA remains active, a parent may go several months only getting to see their children for short visits in public places while supervised by a third party.
Meanwhile, police detectives, caseworkers, and forensic specialists may be called upon to investigate allegations of maltreatment against the children.
While it may feel demeaning and unnecessary to have your custody visits supervised, Spivak Law Firm frequently encourages parents to exercise visits to maintain relationships with the children.
The purpose of the supervisor is to ensure the children’s safety. A supervisor also safeguards the parent from false allegations of abuse.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation. Call us today at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Spivak Law Firm Offers Many Clients Flat Fees
Flat fees are one-time charges for legal services. Unlike retainers, flat fees provide clients certainty for how much their total legal fees will cost.
Flat fees are generally offered if a client seeks legal representation at a court hearing or for drafting legal documents. Flat fees may even include filing fees and travel costs related to the case.
At Spivak Law Firm, many of our clients appreciate that we offer flat fees so they know upfront how much they will need to pay for our representation.
We offer flat fees for many types of cases, including:
- PFA hearings
- Child support hearings
- Child custody conciliations
- Preliminary hearings
- ICC hearings
- Summary trials and summary appeals
- Criminal record expungements
- Drafting wills and powers of attorney
To speak with an experienced family law and criminal defense attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Despite Harms, Parents Continue to Spank Kids
Parents should not use physical punishment on their kids, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
A growing body of research demonstrates that physical punishment is actually harmful to children.
Spanking and other forms of severe discipline – such as verbally berating or humiliating a child – have been repeatedly linked to behavioral, emotional, psychological, and academic problems.
But spanking is still prevalent in American families and legal in all states.
About two-thirds of Americans agreed that “a good, hard spanking” is sometimes necessary to discipline a child, according to a recent national survey.
Spivak Law Firm handles family law and criminal defense with a special focus on child custody and Protection From Abuse (PFA). To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Divorce: Fleeing an Abusive Spouse
There are many forms of spousal abuse: mental, emotional, physical, and sexual.
If you are the victim of spousal abuse, there are actions you can take to protect yourself.
You may file a criminal complaint with your local police department and seek to press charges if you are the victims of physical or sexual abuse. Domestic abuse charges commonly include: assault, harassment, stalking, reckless endangerment, and terroristic threats.
You may also consider filing for a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order to prohibit all contact and even have the abuser evicted from the marital residence. A PFA may be obtained on grounds of physical violence, sexual violence, harassment, or stalking.
If you are suffering mental or emotional abuse, you may request a hearing for exclusive possession of the marital residence, which would enable you to stay in your home during the divorce process and prohibit your abuser from the premises.
If you need immediate shelter from an abusive partner, there are many resources available to assist you.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation in all family law and criminal defense matters with a special focus on child custody and domestic abuse. Call us today at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA Hearings: Child Testimony
A child under 13-years-old who alleges physical or sexual abuse may not have to testify at a Protection From Abuse (PFA) hearing under Pennsylvania Law.
The Tender Years Hearsay Act allows a psychologist or caseworker from Children Youth and Families (CYF) to testify on the child’s behalf.
The purpose of the Act is to protect children from the added trauma of appearing in court to describe the details of the alleged assault.
New legislation may expand the Act to include children under 17-years-old.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania opposes the bill on grounds that it violates the defendant’s right to due process.
Courts heavily rely on other professionals to determine whether abuse on a child actually occurred.
There may be a forensic interview conducted by a child abuse specialist in the presence of a police detective and a CYF caseworker.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law and criminal defense with a special focus on PFA, domestic abuse and high-conflict child custody.
Call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Domestic Violence and the “Boyfriend Loophole”
Existing federal law forbids people convicted of domestic violence against a current or former spouse to buy or own a firearm.
But what if the abuse was perpetrated by an intimate partner who is not your spouse?
Lawmakers may close the so-called “boyfriend loophole” to expand protections for abuse victims.
Efforts to renew the Violence Against Women Act include a provision to prohibit firearm ownership by those convicted of abusing, assaulting or stalking a dating partner, or to those under a restraining order.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation. We handle all areas of family law and criminal defense with a special focus on domestic violence, child custody, and Protection From Abuse (PFA).
To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Children Who Witness Domestic Abuse
Children who witness domestic abuse may have the following range of symptoms:
- Loss of appetite
- Sleep disturbance
- School problems – refuses to attend, truancy, poor performance
- Anxiety, fear of abandonment
- Increased violent behavior
- Verbal abusiveness, lying
- Regression – wanting bottle, baby talk, thumb sucking
- Perfectionism
- Shyness
- Tantrums
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law, including: child custody, child support, divorce, Protection From Abuse (PFA) and Children Youth and Families (CYF).
To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA Law: 24 Hours to Relinquish Guns
Under Pennsylvania law, a person subjected to a Final Protection From Abuse (PFA) order was given 60 days to turn over his or her firearms.
A new law speeds up the time that people have to relinquish their guns to 24 hours after they have been convicted of a misdemeanor domestic-violence crime or had a Final PFA order approved against them by a judge.
The 24-hour provision intends to close a loophole that exposed domestic-abuse victims to continued risk of violence even after obtaining a PFA order.
The new law applies even in cases of alleged stalking, harassment, and assault where guns were not involved.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong representation at PFA hearings. For more information, call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Protecting Abuse Victims
Victims of domestic violence may obtain Protection from Abuse (PFA) Orders to curb the abuse and prohibit contact with the perpetrator.
But even obtaining a PFA may not provide adequate protection.
The Pennsylvania Legislature recently approved a resolution to examine PFA law and practice for potential insufficiencies.
The commission will work closely with professionals experienced with PFAs to identify and remedy flaws to more adequately protect victims of domestic abuse.
To speak with an experienced PFA attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.