South Hills Family Law Firm
Child Custody and Separation Anxiety Disorder
Separation anxiety disorder is the most common anxiety disorder in children ages 12 and younger, and symptoms can emerge as early as age 2.
The causes aren’t entirely clear.
Genetics play a role – if one or both parents have an anxiety disorder of any kind, their children are more likely to have separation anxiety disorder.
The disorder can also be triggered in the wake of a stressful life event, like a high-conflict divorce or child custody dispute.
Parents who are concerned that their child may be showing signs of separation anxiety disorder should see a therapist who specializes in treating pediatric anxiety.
If left untreated, anxiety disorders increase the risk of other mental health conditions such as depression.
Treatment generally involves using cognitive behavioral therapy to help kids learn to manage symptoms plus training to help manage tantrums.
Spivak Law Firm handles all family law and child custody matters. We routinely help families connect with important resources, such as: pediatric counselors, family counselors, and co-parenting counselors.
To speak with an experienced child custody attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Final Preparations for Divorce
When preparing for divorce, you should take stock of all your financial assets and debts.
For many families, the most significant assets include the marital residence and retirement accounts. Other assets may include bank accounts, investment accounts, vehicles, jewelry, and furnishings.
Debts commonly include credit cards, mortgage balances, home-equity lines of credit, and student loans.
At Spivak Law Firm, we routinely help people determine the value of their marital estates and negotiate divorce settlement agreements.
To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
High-Conflict Divorce
Most divorce cases are settled by negotiation without need to go to court or stand before a judge.
But some high-conflict cases make settlement impossible.
Spouses may disagree on everything from how to divide the marital estate to the child custody schedule or how much child support or spousal support should be paid.
In such cases, the spouses may engage in multiple motions, hearings or trials before the divorce can be finalized.
There may also be need to undergo discovery – the formal court process for obtaining important information needed for trial. In divorce cases, discovery may be necessary to obtain key financial documents.
Spivak Law Firm has extensive experience in high-conflict divorce and child custody. To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Plea Deals in Criminal Cases
People facing criminal charges accept a plea agreement more than ninety percent of the time.
In exchange for a guilty plea, some of the charges may be dropped or reduced. In some cases, the deal may include a recommendation for probation rather than incarceration.
Domestic violence cases usually involve charges of assault, harassment, terroristic threats, reckless endangerment, strangulation and stalking.
Typical plea deals involving such charges may include: reducing misdemeanor charges to a summary conviction if the defendant:
- Undergoes a substance-abuse evaluation
- Undergoes a mental-health evaluation
- Completes anger management or batterers-intervention classes
- Avoids abusive contact with the victim for a period of time
- Avoids negative police contact for a period of time
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of criminal defense with a special focus on domestic-violence defense. We successfully resolve many cases through plea deals at preliminary hearings and pretrial conferences.
For more information, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Divorce Rates Increase Due to Politics, Economy
Current political divisions have taken a toll on many relationships.
Family law attorneys and mental health professionals attest to an uptick in separation and divorce based at least partially on political differences.
Economic woes have also contributed to high stress levels experienced by many families, as fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic includes high rates of unemployment in many industries.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation in all family law matters, including: divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, division of assets and debts, estate planning, and Protection From Abuse (PFA).
To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Guidance for Parents Seeking a Divorce
Parents who wish to get a divorce typically have four major issues to resolve.
First, you must determine how to divide time with your children. This is known as child custody. Many parents equally share custody of their children, though there may be reasons for one parent to serve as the primary caregiver.
Second, you must determine if either parent is eligible to receive financial assistance. This may come in the form of child support or spousal support. Child support will be paid until all the minor children turn 18 or graduate from high school. Spousal support may end when the divorce is resolved or, in some cases, continue even after the divorce in the form of alimony.
Third, you must divide the marital estate by determining the values for all assets and debts accumulated during the marriage. Assigning values to some assets can prove complicated. For instance, appraisals may be necessary to determine the value of the marital residence, family business, or retirement accounts.
Fourth, you must obtain a decree in divorce. The decree is a legal document issued by the Court of Common Pleas in your county indicating that the divorce has been finalized. Some spouses wish to resume their maiden name when finalizing a divorce.
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas related to divorce and family law, including: child custody, child support, spousal support, alimony, division of assets and debts, name changes, and Protection From Abuse (PFA). To schedule a consultation with an experienced divorce and family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Final Preparations for Divorce
When preparing for divorce, you should take stock of all your financial assets and debts.
For many families, the most significant assets include the marital residence and retirement accounts.
Other assets may include bank accounts, investment accounts, vehicles, jewelry, and furnishings.
Debts commonly include credit cards, mortgage balances, home-equity lines of credit, and student loans.
At Spivak Law Firm, we routinely help people determine the value of their marital estates and negotiate marriage settlement agreements.
To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Is Spanking Harmful to Kids?
Parents should not spank their children due to the harmful effects of corporal punishment, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The group also advised against using non-physical punishment that is humiliating, scary or threatening.
Corporal punishment is defined as “non-injurious, open-handed hitting with the intention of modifying child behavior.”
It is associated with increased aggression and defiance, producing effects similar to those of children who experience physical abuse, according to recent studies.
It is estimated that about two-thirds of parents in the United States have spanked their children.
Spivak Law Firm handles all family law matters, including: child custody, child support, divorce, 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.
How to Receive Child Support
In Pennsylvania, there are two ways to receive child support payments.
Most people who receive child support choose to have the money directly deposited into their bank account.
Some elect to use an EPPICard, which is a type of debit card. You cannot make your own deposits onto an EPPICard account, which can be used at most retail stores, grocery stores and ATMs.
Spivak Law Firm routinely handles all family law matters, including: divorce, child custody, child support, and Protection From Abuse (PFA).
Our child support lawyers are experienced at running support calculations, filing support actions, negotiating and drafting support agreements, and representing our clients at support hearings to achieve the best possible outcomes.
To schedule a free consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
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.