South Park PFA Lawyer
What If A Person Lies To Get A PFA?
At Spivak Law Firm, we provide strong, aggressive defense at Protection From Abuse (PFA) hearings in Pittsburgh and all surrounding counties, including: Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Indiana, Mercer, Washington, and Westmoreland.
Our clients often ask us if the alleged victim will face any consequences for lying or exaggerating to the court in order to obtain the Temporary PFA order.
Unfortunately, in our experience, the answer is: no.
People falsely accused of abuse may file a complaint with the police, but the district attorney’s office is unlikely to prosecute for fear of having a chilling effect on other people seeking protection.
Even in extreme circumstances, district attorney’s offices rarely prosecute plaintiffs who have filed repeated PFA petitions in multiple counties with outrageous, unsubstantiated accusations that are later dismissed.
It is commonly known that some people abuse the PFA system in order to gain leverage in a divorce or child custody action.
At Spivak Law Firm, we handle all family law and criminal defense matters, including: PFA defense, criminal domestic violence defense, divorce, child custody, child support, and criminal record expungements.
To schedule a free consultation with an experienced PFA defense attorney, 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.
A Parent’s Responsibilities
Every parent has the responsibility to:
- Engage in the best possible cooperative parenting partnership
- Encourage and promote their children’s relationship with the other parent
- Make and keep appropriate custody and visitation schedules
- Develop their own parenting style and not deliberately interfere with the other parent’s parenting
- Provide private and comfortable space for their children in their home
- Provide good, safe, and appropriate child-care when parents cannot be available
- Communicate with the other parent about legal, educational, medical, and financial needs
- Support their children’s participation in educational or extra-curricular and community activities
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate representation in all child custody matters. To speak with an experienced family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA Violations And Child Custody
Violating a Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order by contacting the victim can land you in jail for up to six months. But what about violating the custody provision contained in a PFA? You can be arrested for that, too.
For instance, let’s say your PFA Order grants you supervised custody only. If you are seen alone with the child, you may be arrested and charged with Indirect Criminal Contempt (ICC).
Or, for example, if you withhold the child by not showing up at a custody exchange per the PFA Order, you may face criminal charges.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive representation for plaintiffs and defendants in all PFA and child custody cases. Call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Where Do I Go To Get A PFA?
A person seeking the protection of a PFA restraining order can file in one of the following places:
–The county where the plaintiff resides;
–The county where the plaintiff works;
–The county where the defendant may be served; or
–The county where the abuse occurred
If you are going to ask the Judge to remove the abuser from the home you share, you must file the petition in the county where the home is located.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive representation for plaintiffs and defendants at PFA hearings in Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Indiana County, Washington County, and Westmoreland County.
To speak with an experienced PFA attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Despite PFA, Pittsburgh Wife Brutally Murdered
A Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order is a powerful tool that restricts an abuser from having any contact with his or her victim under threat of arrest.
But, tragically, a PFA in some cases is still just a piece of paper.
On New Year’s Day, a man from Duquesne was charged with homicide and arson for setting a fire that killed his wife. According to news reports, the man tied her up, poured vodka on her, and lit the alcohol.
Two weeks earlier, she had obtained a Temporary PFA against him. But the PFA did not save her life.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive representation for plaintiffs and defendants at PFA hearings in Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Clarion County, Fayette County, Indiana County, Washington County, and Westmoreland County.
To speak with an experienced PFA lawyer, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
3 Types of PFA Orders in Pennsylvania
There are three types of Protection From Abuse (PFA) Orders:
- Emergency PFA Orders are issued by a District Justice when the Court is closed during non-business hours. An emergency PFA Order expires at the end of the next business day for the Court.
- Temporary PFA Orders are issued by the Court of Common Pleas until a final hearing can be held, which is scheduled within ten business days.
- Final PFA Orders are entered as a result of an appearance before the Court where both parties have the chance to be heard by the Judge.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive representation for plaintiffs and defendants at PFA hearings in Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Indiana County, Washington County, and Westmoreland County.
To speak with an experienced PFA lawyer, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Fight Back Against Allegations of Abuse
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people to exaggerate, fabricate or outright lie to receive a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order. As a result, many innocent people are unfairly swept into the court system. Spivak Law Firm strongly defends such people and has an excellent record of success in getting bogus PFA orders dismissed.
But what if you did it? In other words, should a person who has perpetrated abuse under Pennsylvania law simply accept a three-year Final PFA? Or is it still worthwhile to retain an experienced PFA attorney and fight back against the charges?
At Spivak Law Firm, we recommend fighting back.
In cases where the evidence is stacked against our clients, we are still able to help them by protecting their child custody rights, safeguarding their property, limiting the duration of a PFA order, and advising them on moving forward with their lives. In many cases, we are successful in avoiding a Final PFA even where abuse occurred.
At Spivak Law Firm, we do not judge our clients. We advocate strongly for them. We understand that we all have done things for which we are not proud. We treat our clients with dignity and respect by making ourselves accessible and by striving to build the strongest possible defense in every case.
Served with a PFA? Call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA Law Increasing Protections For Minors
Pennsylvania appears poised to expand its Protection From Abuse (PFA) law to include protections for minors who are victims of stalking and harassment.
Under current law, stalking and harassment victims who are minors cannot obtain a PFA unless their assailant is a current or former household member, family member, or former intimate partner. But what if the stalker does not fit into any of these categories?
A proposed amendment to the Protection of Victims of Sexual Violence or Intimidation Act would close this loophole. If signed into law by Gov. Corbett, the new protections will go into effect July 2015.
To speak with an experienced Pennsylvania PFA attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
PFA Law Adding Protections for Abuse Victims
Pennsylvania will likely expand its Protection From Abuse (PFA) law to offer more protections for rape victims. A PFA, also known as a restraining order or protection order, is a powerful tool that restricts a perpetrator from having any contact with the victim.
Under the current PFA law, victims of abuse can get a PFA against (1) their spouse, (2) their live-in boyfriend or girlfriend, (3) a parent of their child, (4) their child, (5) their former sexual or intimate partner, (6) their parent, or (7) any family member related to them by blood or marriage.
But the PFA law does not currently protect survivors who were sexually assaulted by strangers or acquaintances. This loophole in the law will be closed if Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett signs the Protection of Victims of Sexual Violence or Intimidation Act.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive representation for plaintiffs and defendants in PFA cases. To speak with an experienced Pittsburgh PFA lawyer, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.