An Hour That Produces an Answer
Most legal consultations serve as an introduction; this one does the work. You bring the complaint, the custody order, the draft Marital Settlement Agreement, the support figures from one of the free tools, or the question no one has answered, and the hour is spent on it. By the end the figure is calculated, the document is reviewed, the filing is understood, and there is a plan for the next step. Questions are answered and often reframed, because most people have never been through this and do not yet know what they should be asking.
The advice is specific to Allegheny County and drawn from years of practice before the judges and hearing officers of its Family Division. Attorney Levine takes the session himself.
Five Situations the Hour Is Built For
You have been served. A divorce complaint, a custody petition, a support filing, or a temporary PFA has arrived, and the deadline is running. The session reads the filing with you, explains what it asks for and what the court will do next, and sets out how to respond and when.
You have a draft agreement in hand. An MSA, a custody stipulation, or a support proposal is waiting for your signature. The session reviews it term by term against what an Allegheny County court would likely order, so you know what you are giving up and what to ask for before you sign. See MSA Review Before Signing.
You have a number and do not trust it. The child support calculator, the APL estimator, or the equitable distribution worksheet gave you a figure. The session runs it with your real income and the deviation factors a calculator cannot weigh, and tells you whether it holds.
You already have a lawyer. A second opinion before a settlement conference, a hearing, or a signature is a common use of the hour. You keep your counsel. The session gives you an independent read on the strategy and the terms.
You are deciding whether to begin. Whether the choice is separation, filing, or waiting, the session shows what each would mean for the marital estate, support, and custody, with real figures, before anything is set in motion.
“I was truly impressed about how thorough and concise Attorney Levine was during the consultation. He is the one-stop shop for all your divorce matters. The highlight of my experience with him was how he took the time to fully understand my story in order to provide tailored and creative strategies for my case. Attorney Levine comes with my strongest recommendations.”
Shelby, Family Law Client
Requested Through the Form, Confirmed With a Time
Send the request through the contact page. When we can take on your matter, Attorney Levine replies with a time the same day. If you have not heard back by the end of the next business day, please consult other counsel. You confirm, pay through LawPay once the time is set, and the session is held by phone. Send the documents the question turns on with the request so they are on hand.
A conflict check is run before the session. If it prevents the session, nothing is owed. Sessions are not booked on a calendar, and there is no intake call in between.
$400 for the Hour, $250 for the Half Hour
The full hour covers document review, a served filing, a complete support or property calculation, or a second opinion on a settlement. The half hour covers a single figure or a single question with the documents already in hand. Both are paid in advance through LawPay once the time is set. The fee is for the session; it does not retain the firm, and whether we go further is decided afterward, by both of us.
The first brief call is free and confirms that your matter belongs in this practice. Questions that call for advice are answered in the session.
"Scott did not make unrealistic promises or tell me what he thought I wanted to hear. He gave me direct, honest advice based on his experience and stayed focused on the issues that actually mattered."
Paul, PFA Client
The Analysis, Done
You leave with the figure calculated on your income and your facts, the document reviewed with the weak terms marked and the fair ones confirmed, and the filing explained, with the response and the deadline set out. There is also a plan: what to do this week, what to expect from the court or the other side, and what it would cost to have the firm do it. Where the right answer is to handle it yourself, or to stay with the lawyer you have, the session says so.
“Scott handled my situation with empathy and expertise. He gave me clear options and their likely outcomes with each situation that came up.”
S., PFA Client
Why the Session Is Paid
The session is paid because it is legal advice. Its guidance rests on years before the same Family Division judges and hearing officers who will hear your case, and on the many matters like yours that came before them. Once Attorney Levine has heard your side in that depth, the firm cannot represent the other party, and your matter receives his complete attention and analysis.
We have always given advice freely, and this site remains open to anyone who needs it. Demand for the firm’s time has grown well beyond what free calls can absorb, and our first obligation is to the clients we already represent. Most callers now ask how to retain the firm, and the Strategy Session is where that begins.
“Scott’s a fighter. A knowledgeable, down-to-earth guy who’ll fight his damnedest to advocate for you in the courtroom. Knows the lay of the land of Pittsburgh’s divorce court system masterfully. Knows the judges, the procedures, the other lawyers, the moves anyone can make from every angle. He possesses the right mix of empathy and pragmatism that one wants in a lawyer. He’s at core a compassionate person, and he knows where to draw the boundaries around what makes sense versus what the system will permit.”
Mike B., Divorce Client