All posts by BowTieLawyer

Matthew operates the Thompson Law Firm, pllc, a Mississippi based Family Law firm emphasizing; Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, Modification, Contempt and Appeals, handling family law cases throughout Mississippi. (601) 850-8000 Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms www.BowTieLawyer.ms
divorce, General Legal, Opinion

Leave Your Guns at Home…

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No.  This is not anti-open carry, which Mississippi allows by the way.  This is about what not to take to Court.

Courthouses are upping safety measures.  As you can imagine, high emotion, high drama and looming consequences are involved in cases daily.  Because of this, safeguards have been and are being implemented throughout Courthouses.  Metal detectors, handhelds, bag searches are routine.  Litigants routinely have to hike back to the car to put up their purses and phones.

Here’s What You Don’t Take to Court:

  • Any weapon. No guns, knives, clubs, mace, etc… if it’s “evidence” let the lawyer deal with it.
  • Cell phone.  The bane of the Judge’s existence these days, most are prohibited by the Court and a few Courts even disallow the lawyers from having cell phones. Very frustrating.
  • Purse. Yes, they are apparently just a large assault bags, full of narcotics and recording devices.
  • Recording Devices.  There’s a Court reporter, unless you have specific permission having a recording device may well get you in trouble.
  • Drinks.  This is elementary.
  • Gum.  This is kindergarten.
  • Your girlfriend.  She will just anger the wife and the judge. No good comes from this.

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Family Law attorney and as Johnny Cash sang, “Don’t take your guns to town.”

Follow the blog:#BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm  You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

General Legal, Opinion

Vote Early (and vote often…)

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There is a run-off on June 24, 2014.   Up for election are Senators Cochran (U.S.) and McDaniel (State), both vying for the Republican nod for this fall’s U.S. Senate seat and locally, Ronny Lott vs. David Overby for the Madison County Chancery Clerk position.

This election takes place during the Mississippi Bar Convention, which is an annual Lawyer’s meeting.  Mississippi lawyers bone up on recent changes in the law and earn their Continuing Legal Education (CLE) hours and ethics requirements to keep a valid, current law license.

So, if you are going to the bar convention be sure to vote absentee ballot between now and Saturday at noon.  You can vote at your local circuit clerk’s office, M-F 8-5 and Saturday 8-12 noon.  After that you’re out of luck.

Vote early, and as the saying goes…vote often.

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Family Law attorney and is voting in the forthcoming election.

Follow the blog:#BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm  You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

 

Child Custody, Child Support, divorce, General Legal, Grandparent Visitation, Irreconcilable differences, Modifications, Visitation

But, I Cannot Afford an Attorney…Low to No Cost Help is Out There.

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Can you afford an attorney?  More often than not, you cannot afford to go without an attorney!

Oftentimes I hear, “I want the best!

We’re going to take this one all the way!

No, I don’t have any money...”

Having no money is a problem, but more often than not it’s more of not being willing to pay the money you do have.  In Family Law, in all but the rarest of incidences you do not have the right to have an attorney appointed to represent you.  This is a common misconception.  In the Criminal arena you do have the right to an attorney.  While Civil issue may be no less important to you the protections afforded to Civil litigants are typically lesser.

So, what do I do?  If you really have no money there are 3 great resources for Civil Litigants.

  • Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project.  MVLP handles civil matters, through volunteer attorneys for low income persons in Mississippi. (Primarily Uncontested Divorces, Guardianships and Expungements, etc…)
  • Phone: 601-960-9577      Fax: 601-944-9678     Email: mvlp@mvlp.org           Jackson Office.
  • Mississippi Center for Legal Services.  Legal Services handles civil matters, through in-house and some volunteer attorneys for low income persons in Mississippi in a variety of Civil matters. (Uncontested Divorces, Adoptions, Name Changes, Disability, Consumer, Education Law matters, etc…)
  • Contact the State-wide Intake Hotline at 1-800-498-1804
  • Mission First Legal Aid.  Missions First uses a combo of in-house and volunteer attorneys, but offers a more limited scope of representation. (Family law matters, Government Benefits, Housing,and  Debt,  but they do not handle divorce cases.) Approached from a mission, christian-based model of service.
  • Legal Aid Office, please call 601.608.0056

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Family Law attorney and volunteers with all 3 entities above.

Follow the blog:#BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm  You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

 

Opinion

“Indecent things with Animals…” Cochran vs. McDaniel, Round 13

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You can witness, firsthand, political hay being made!

The Clarion Ledger has the video on its website of Cochran’s now infamous reference to animals.

The link above is the video of Senator Cochran’s speech at Forrest General hospital.  Senator Cochran’s campaign has new vigor and he is making the rounds, glad-handing the people and being folksy… campaigning, finally.

In an attempt to relate to residents of the Mississippi Pine Belt, Cochran recalled spending holidays in rural parts of the area visiting relatives, picking pecans and doing “all kinds of indecent things with animals.”  It got laughs and Cochran, himself, smiled as he tied his memories into why the locals should support him.

Now the McDaniel campaign is claiming this to be a Freudian slip; proof that the septuagenarian Senator is losing it or worse, some horrific admission to harming small woodland and/or farm creatures.

Watch for yourself and make your own conclusions.

Catch up on the Campaign; Picture-gate, Update, Open Letter.  For mesmerizing coverage for all things campaign related hop on over to Jackson Jambalaya.

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Family Law attorney and encourages you to stay tuned for the upcoming blog on animal indecency and grounds for divorce in Mississippi.  Interesting stuff…

Follow the blog:#BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm  You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

 

Opinion, Uncategorized

FINALLY…a Decent Campaign Video

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“I’m Benny Hill and I approve this message!”

#bowtielawyerms #TrustTheBowTie #campaignad

divorce, General Legal, Opinion

Signs of an Unreasonable Client…

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Does your lawyer avoid you like the plague, saying he’s  in “Court,” or she’s in depositions? Maybe they are, or maybe you are an unreasonable client!

Signs of an Unreasonable client:

  • You want it yesterday. (Most things are not emergencies and even the basics take time to get right.  Allow adequate time.)
  • You want it your way. (This is not Burger King.  Usually, doing it your way leads to the mess that you are now in.)
  • You do not heed advice.  (Similar to wanting it your way, you ignore instructions such as “DO NOT COMMUNICATE WITH HIM IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER!” and then you call, text, email and send smoke signals and a fight ensues.)
  • You blame the messenger.  (A lot of times attorneys have to deliver crummy news due to bad circumstances.  It’s is not because we want you to suffer, but it is because that is the way it is.)
  • You think everything is an EMERGENCY. (It’s not.)
  • You want something for nothing. (You may well get what you pay for.)
  • You paid last year and think they owe you.  (That was a year ago. See You want something for nothing.)
  • You call the office, leave a message, call the cell phone, leave a message, send 2 texts, send 1 email, and call the paralegal all within 3 minutes and it is NOT an emergency.  (This is wholly unnecessary.)

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Divorce attorney and knows a thing or two about unreasonable clients.  If you identify with 2 or more of the above you may well be an Unreasonable Client, see your lawyer at their next available appointment for treatment.

Follow the blog:#BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm  You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

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Opinion

Candidate Takes Advice..? Trust the Bow Tie

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Last Sunday, June 8, 2014, the Clarion Ledger pointed out a change in Senator Cochran’s campaign strategy…

…And after months of defending or dodging his record of bringing home the bacon from Washington, Cochran is now using it for his offense message: Look what I’ve done for your county, town, business, military base or school. Imagine life without me, or the federal spending that makes up more than 40 percent of state revenue…

Sound familiar? A blog posting on the morning of Friday, June 6, in An Open Letter to the Senate Candidates, opined that Senator Cochran needed to change the tone of the race and proclaim that he has;

…brought more monies into Mississippi than Mississippi has paid into the system.  Be proud of it…You brought more jobs, more industry, more opportunity than otherwise would have been available to Mississippi…you went to bat for Mississippi and brought home the bacon!  Be proud of that.  You did not create the 17 trillion dollar national debt, you fighting for Mississippi is not saddling our children and grandchildren to indentured servitude.  Instead it gives Mississippians a fighting chance and needed resources and the people know this.  If you had not worked to help Mississippi it would have gone elsewhere.  No one can refute that with any semblance of credibility.

I’m Matthew Thompson and I approve this message. (No word from the McDaniel camp…)

Follow the blog:#BowTieLawyer

You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000

Child Custody, Child Support, General Legal, Visitation

Why a Lawyer Does NOT Call You Back.

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It’s just a “…quick question.  Just one question. Does the father of my baby have any rights and will I get in trouble if…”

We all get them. A voice-mail left in the inbox, an email or a comment/question on the website.  The problem is answering just one question could very well be considered rendering legal advice.  Upon that being done, a lawyer’s responsibility can grow exponentially. Huh?

You call and say;

“this is Miranda. I just want to know if Ricky can see my baby and if I’ll get in trouble if I don’t let him.  We went to court some years ago and the judge said he had to pay but that I had custody…”

There is no way to answer the above adequately without more information.

  • What did the Order state?
  • Who has legal custody?
  • Who has physical custody?
  • Does he have visitation?
  • Why are you refusing?
  • Is he dangerous?
  • What was he ordered to pay?
  • Is he in arrears?

Without more information any answer is dangerous and could very likely be wrong.  And once you’ve relied upon it and then sued over it you say, “Well, Lawyer so-and-so told me to do “x.”

That is why lawyers do not call you back when you are not a client. (When you are a client and don’t get a call back is another story entirely, and a blog for another day.)

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney and sometimes cannot respond to the comments and questions left on this site because of lack of information.  Additionally, if you do not include a means to contact you directly the only way to respond is through a public posting which would require disclosing your information which is generally not appropriate.

Follow the blog:#BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm  You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms