Squirrel Hill Custody Lawyer
Child Custody and Criminal Charges
Don’t let criminal charges or a PFA Order stand in the way of filing for child custody.
Spivak Law Firm is one of the few law firms in Pittsburgh handling both family law and criminal defense matters.
Many of our clients face PFA actions or criminal charges such as assault or harassment.
Some even face criminal charges involving children, including: child abuse or endangering the welfare of a child.
The process for obtaining a child custody order can take up to a year or longer. We recommend against further delaying matters by waiting until your criminal charge is resolved.
In many cases, we are able to obtain custody orders while criminal charges are pending.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation in all family law and criminal defense matters. Call us today at (412) 344-4900 or (800) 545-9390.
Why Child Custody Orders Are Important
Child custody orders are important even for parents who mostly get along. They are essential for parents who don’t.
Child custody orders typically include the schedules for when each parent will have the children, including during summers and holidays.
For high-conflict cases, it is often important to have detailed orders that govern everything from custody exchange locations to vacations and modes of communication.
But even parents who typically communicate well benefit from orders that lay out expectations when conflict arises.
Parents are always able to deviate from the orders so long as they both agree.
Spivak Law Firm handles all family law matters, including: child custody, child support, divorce, and Protection From Abuse (PFA).
Call us today at (412) 344-4900 or (800) 545-9390.
Choosing a Divorce Attorney
It can be expensive to change attorneys during a divorce, as the new attorney may spend hours reviewing all dockets and documents to be fully informed about the case.
You may avoid such unnecessary expenses by carefully choosing the right divorce attorney for your needs.
–Reputation: Some law firms are known for pushing litigation, while others are better known for negotiating favorable outcomes. At Spivak Law Firm, we are tough negotiators and skilled trial lawyers who take the time to understand your needs and create legal strategies to achieve your goals.
–Experience: You may consider researching how long an attorney has been in practice, as well as his or her level of experience with divorce matters. No attorney handles all practices areas, so make sure that your attorney has significant experience handling divorce cases. At Spivak Law Firm, we handle all divorce and family law matters.
–Hourly Rates: Choose a law firm with an hourly rate that fits your budget. A lower hourly rate will stretch your retainer and likely save you thousands of dollars over the course of your case. At Spivak Law Firm, we charge competitive rates commensurate with our experience.
To speak with an experienced divorce and family law attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Divorce and Bankruptcy
My spouse and I both want a divorce. We also need to file for bankruptcy due to our significant debts. What should we do first: file for divorce or file for bankruptcy?
The answer depends on the circumstances of your case, according to a recent article in Lawyers Journal written by Pittsburgh attorney Beth Slaby.
“If the spouses are on amicable terms, it may be best to file bankruptcy first,” she writes. “This allows both to share in the cost of attorneys’ fees and filing fees and could possibly protect them from paying joint debt.”
On the other hand, she writes: “The benefit of filing for divorce first may be that a married couple’s joint income is too high to qualify for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, but a person might be able to qualify individually after the divorce is final.”
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law, including: divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, alimony, division of assets and debts, and Protection From Abuse (PFA).
Call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Teen Mental Health Issues
Statistics regarding teen mental health are, well, depressing.
More than 30% of high schoolers report persistent sadness.
About 20% say they have seriously considered suicide.
Teenagers may be happy to learn that some social scientists recommend combating these problems by advocating for less homework and later start-times at school.
Teenagers are not getting enough sleep, according to a recent Washington Post article:
“No one questions the benefits of sleep for babies and young children. But teenagers’ brains and bodies are changing and growing just as much as they did in their earliest years. The restructuring of the adolescent brain is pivotal to healthy development – and to a large extent, it occurs during sleep.”
Spivak Law Firm handles all areas of family law and criminal defense with a special focus on child custody and domestic abuse. Call us today at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Domestic Abuse: Behavioral Effects On Kids
Children who witness domestic violence may have the following behavioral effects:
- Poor impulse control
- Stress disorders and psychosomatic complaints
- Increased social isolation or withdrawal
- Increased deceptiveness
- Aggressiveness
- Dependence
- Passiveness
- Bed-wetting
- Nightmares
- Lack of creativity and healthy exploration
- Feelings of powerlessness
- Low self-esteem
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Confusion and insecurity
- Sadness and depression
- Poor definition of self
- Defines self in parenting role
- Ambivalence
- Constant fear
- Self-blame
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).
We provide strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation. To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Child Custody and Healthy Anxiety
Anxiety is a critical protective mechanism that children begin to develop during their first year of life.
Healthy anxiety warns us when danger might be ahead, and for babies and toddlers, separation anxiety marks a developmental milestone as children begin recognizing that loved ones offer the most safety and protection.
Short, manageable meltdowns that happen right after day care drop-off, at bedtime, or when a parent leaves the room are normal and generally self-limiting.
Those episodes can also happen during periods of transition, such as after moving into a new home or starting a new school.
They typically last only a few minutes and go away entirely after the child has had a few weeks to adjust to the new routine.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate, cost-effective representation in all child custody and family law matters. To schedule a consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Child Custody: Strategies to Prevent Meltdowns
Young children may exhibit symptoms of separation anxiety when their parents divorce. Symptoms may include whimpering to be picked up, shrieking if a parent leaves the room, or wailing at bedtime.
Child psychologists recommend the following strategies to prevent or de-escalate meltdowns:
- Validate their feelings: Acknowledge that you understand why the situation makes them feel scared, and encourage them to practice being brave and trying an activity on their own.
- Reward quiet acts of bravery: Avoid prolonging goodbyes and paying attention to tantrum. Be sure to reward them for playing alone or going to bed without fuss.
- Practice routines: If you suspect that your child might struggle with an upcoming event, like starting remote learning, returning to preschool or an overnight visit with family, practicing the routine a few days before can help your child prepare.
- Provide a transitional object: Give your children something small and personal that reminds them of home – that they can keep in their pocket or cubby and retrieve when they need to feel a connection to loved ones.
- Relieve your own stress: Anxious parents can exacerbate their children’s anxiety, so take steps to relieve your own stress.
Spivak Law Firm handles all family law matters, including: divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, alimony, separation of assets and debts, estate planning, 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.
Alimony as Secondary Remedy
Alimony is considered a secondary remedy under Pennsylvania law.
If there are liquid assets in the marital estate, judges in Allegheny County prefer to award the lower earning spouse a higher percentage of the martial estate.
Divorce cases often do not include any alimony award, or there may be alimony for a short-term basis only.
Courts generally will not award unless the marriage exceeded 15 years and there is a significant disparity in income levels between the wife and husband.
To learn more about spousal support and alimony, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Divorce for the Higher Earning Spouse
The higher-earning spouse may be required to pay spousal support or alimony as part of a divorce.
Spousal support refers to money paid to the lower-earning spouse until the divorce is finalized. Alimony refers to money paid to the lower-earning spouse after the decree in divorce has been issued.
Additionally, the higher-earning spouse may be entitled to a smaller portion of the marital estate.
Under Pennsylvania law, the formal process for dividing a marital estate is known as equitable distribution. If the parties cannot agree about how to divide the marital estate, the court will issue an order based on principles of fairness.
In such cases, the court may not believe that a 50/50 division of marital assets is fair. Rather, the higher hearing spouse may receive as little as 40 or 45 percent of the estate.
To learn more about how to divide assets and debts as part of your divorce, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.