Pennsylvania Domestic Violence and Spousal Abuse Laws

By Lisa Marie Vari , Esquire

In Pennsylvania, if there has been actual or threatened physical abuse including the placing of another in reasonable fear of bodily injury, a protection from abuse (PFA) order may be entered by the court. PFAs may only be filed against family or household members including parents and current or former sexual or intimate partners including spouses. (In cases where both parents have committed child abuse or neglect, a juvenile court action under the juvenile dependency laws could also be initiated.)

A PFA order can remove the abusing person from a jointly occupied residence and provide that no contact may occur for up to eighteen months. In addition to ordering the perpetrator of abuse to vacate a jointly occupied residence, a PFA order would direct that the abuser refrain from any contact with the victim. If a PFA order has been entered, the alleged abuser could be arrested and incarcerated pending any allegations on the alleged victim's part that the PFA has been violated. Furthermore, as part of a PFA order, a judge could enter an order granting the victim custody of any minor children and payment of support on a temporary basis pending a support hearing.

If domestic violence is alleged and a PFA petition filed, a hearing on the PFA is oftentimes the first contact the parties have with the family court system. Because a PFA can have a significant impact on the possession of a jointly occupied residence, custody of minor children and support, it is highly recommended that both the alleged victim and the alleged perpetrator obtain legal representation at any PFA proceeding.

Western Pennsylvania Domestic Violence Shelters and Referral Sources

Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence - 1(800) 932-4632

Alle-Kiski Area HOPE Center located in Tarentum, Pennsylvania - 1(888) 299-4673

Crisis Center North located in Allison Park, Pennsylvania - (412) 364-5556

Helping Abuse Victims in Need (HAVIN) located in Kittanning, Pennsylvania - 1(800) 841-8881 or (724) 548-8888

Washington Women's Shelter located in Washington, Pennsylvania - 1(800) 791-4000 or (724) 223-9190

Womansplace located in McKeesport, Pennsylvania - (412) 678-4616

Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh - (412) 687-8005

Women's Center of Beaver County located in Beaver, Pennsylvania - (724) 775-0131

Women's Services of Westmoreland County located in Greensburg, Pennsylvania - (724) 836-1122

Women's Shelter Rape Crisis Center of Lawrence County located in New Castle, Pennsylvania - (724) 652-9036

Free Cell Phones for Domestic Violence and Spousal Abuse Victims

The attorneys and staff at the law offices of Lisa Marie Vari & Associates, in conjunction with PAC Comm Wireless located in the Pittsburgh suburbs of Baldwin Borough and Oakland, collect used cellular phones and donate them to local abuse shelters where they are distributed to victims of domestic violence and spousal abuse to enable those individuals to dial for emergency police assistance. If you wish to donate a cellular phone, please mail or drop it off at our offices or contact your local domestic violence shelter for the nearest location accepting donations. If you are interested in obtaining a free cellular phone for emergency purposes, please contact your local domestic violence shelter for more details.

Disclaimer

The statements in this section are based on Pennsylvania law and have been issued to inform and not advise. The statements are general in nature and individual facts in a given case may alter their application or involve other laws not referred to here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lisa Marie Vari, has focused her legal efforts in the family law field for over ten years. Attorney Vari handles the most complicated aspects of the firm's divorce, equitable distribution, support and child custody matters. Ms. Vari is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association, including the family law sections of both organizations, and the Allegheny County Matrimonial Inns of Court.