Domestic Violence & PFA Attorneys Serving Lehigh & Northampton Counties and the Cities of Easton, Allentown & Bethlehem
Our PFA & Domestic Violence Attorneys have extensive experience representing both the abused and those accused of abuse. PFA Laws in Pennsylvania straddle between criminal and family law. Our Lehigh Valley Criminal Defense Attorneys & Easton Family Law Lawyers are here to assist. We have provided educational materials to other law firms to assist them in their representation in these matters and regularly appear at the Lehigh and Northampton County PFA Office.
Pennsylvania has some of the most far-reaching and effective domestic violence laws in the country. While our PFA and Criminal laws are very effective at curbing Domestic Violence they are also subject gamesmanship and abuse of process. In short, while Pennsylvania’s PFA laws are effective, they can often crush an innocent litigant. A PFA lawyer is skilled at navigating this system and defending against false PFAs while prosecuting real acts of violence.
Regardless of whether you have been the victim of Domestic Violence or have been falsely accused of abusing a sexual partner or family member, contact our Lehigh and Northampton County PFA office today for help.
In cases where a person needs immediate protection and the courts are not open, the person can call 911 and be put in contact with the on-duty Magistrate who has the power to issue a temporary PFA. These types of PFA are only to be sought after 4:30 p.m. on weekdays or anytime over the weekend. These PFAs are only effective until the Court reopens and the person must then file for an ex-parte PFA once the courts reopen.
An “ex parte” order is issued by the Court when a person seeking a PFA appears in Court and seeks relief from abuse. The Judge will hear only the information provided by the person seeking the PFA and the person whom the PFA is against will have no opportunity to dispute this information. If the Judge believes there MAY be enough evidence to warrant a PFA he or she will sign a temporary Order prohibiting the alleged abuser from making any contact with the alleged victim. The sheriffs department will serve the PFA defendant with the PFA Order and may also confiscate any firearm from the defendant. The sheriffs may also temporarily evict the defendant from the plaintiff’s residence. An initial ex parte PFA is temporary in nature and the Court must schedule a full hearing shortly after issuing it. Because the defendant does not have a full and fair hearing, these PFAa may be expunged.
After an ex-parte PFA has been filed, the PFA Court will schedule a final PFA hearing where both sides will have an opportunity to be heard. A final PFA can last up to three (3) years and can have substantial consequences for the defendant. It is therefore highly advisable to retain on attorney for a final PFA hearing. After both sides have had a chance to present evidence, the Court will grant or deny a final Protection from Abuse Order.
When you or the defendant live in Northampton County you may file for a PFA by going to the Northampton County PFA office located in the “Lower Level” of the Northampton County Courthouse, 669 Washington Street, Easton, Pennsylvania 18042. The PFA intake staff will step you through the process and will escort you to Courtroom 4 where PFA hearings are held everyday at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. You should arrive at least a half hour earlier than either of these two time to fill out the required paperwork
Lehigh County hosts its PFA hearings at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. every weekday. To file for a PFA you should go to the Lehigh County Courthouse and enter the Lehigh County PFA Office. The clerical staff there will help you in filling out the required paperwork. To attend the 10:30 a.m. hearing you should arrive no later than 9:15 a.m. To attend the 1:30 p.m. hearing list you should arrive no later than 12:15 p.m.
If you don’t make it to the PFA Office in the Courthouse in time, in either county, you should contact your local Magisterial District Judge if its between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. during a weekday. If its after 4:00 p.m. or during the weekend, you should contact 911 and the operator will put you in contact with the on-duty MDJ.
The consequences of having a Final PFA entered against you can be far reaching. It is important to understand that when a judge grants a Final PFA, after a hearing, they have made a “finding of abuse.” That finding of abuse can be used against a defendant in Custody Cases. The finding of abuse can have negative immigration consequences and can prohibit the ownership of firearms.
Additionally, the PFA act allows the Judge to evict someone from their home for up to three years, to enter a child custody order and to order the payment of financial support. Finally, the entry of a Final PFA may eventually lead to charges of contempt and incarceration.
The Easton PFA attorneys in our Domestic Violence Law Office can minimize or remove many of these collateral consequences even in cases where a Final Order is eventually granted.
PFA & Domestic Violence Attorneys in our Easton office are skilled at both prosecuting and defending Contempt of PFA Orders, or PFA Contempts. Failing to abide by a PFA Order is a criminal offense and is punishable by up to six (6) months of incarceration and substantial fines.
Our Easton PFA attorneys handle all matters of criminal defense and are therefore highly prepared to defend against PFA contempts. We have also previously worked as prosecutors and therefore well equipped to prosecute PFA contempts as well.
