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

Crime, divorce, General Legal

When a Whisper is Not a Whisper; The Lost Art of Whispering

03/06/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

At the movies, the library and the classroom you get in trouble for talking. Whispering is requisite.

In Court, whispering, too, is a critical skill. On numerous occasions I have heard many a too loud whisper.

Yesterday I blogged about getting caught taking a bow tie selfie and learning of me getting busted via a too loud whisper.

On another occasion I was taking a deposition and the issue of whether my client had a gun in her car was brought up. She denied having a gun. The soon-to-be ex “whispered” to his attorney that he knew where it was in her car because he put it there!

Learn the ART of Whispering.

Matthew Thompson is a Child Custody Attorney in Mississippi and Whispers quietly.

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

Bow Tie

Your Every Move is Watched

03/05/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

I wear bow ties to Court. Pictures of me in a suit include me in a bow tie. I tie them myself and enjoy wearing them, the look and the attention.

I market the bow tie as well. My blog is blog.bowtielawyer.ms. A search of Bow Tie Lawyer reveals a lot of my musings.

Recently, I was awaiting court and was mentioned in a Tweet regarding bow tie selfies. Those are pictures of yourself in a bow tie. I took one. One of the other persons awaiting court whispered, “he just took a picture of his bow tie.” It was not a quiet whisper, though I believe it was intended to be.

So, what’s the point? Just remember that you are being watched. You are watched in Court, in your dealings out in public, in your daily routines and even those times when you think you are not.

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney and reminds you to Watch Out!

#bowtielawyerms
http://wwww.bowtielawyer.ms
(601) 850-8000

Child Custody, divorce, General Legal, Opinion

Through the Eyes of Child; What Does Your Child SEE?

03/03/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

One of the “rules” of Family Law is when you don’t know what the right legal answer is, do what is RIGHT and you will probably be okay.

Doing what is right is not always easy, nor fun. On several occasions I have had client’s faced with seemingly tough decisions or circumstances. One client suspected the spouse of abusing illegal drugs. They did not have direct proof, but knew of drug abuse in the past and had knowledge of very suspicious behavior lately. Their idea was to create a circumstance where they would have the spouse under surveillance when the spouse was out buying drugs. The problem was the suspected spouse would also have the child during that time. I told them that you cannot put your child in that situation…

In other instances, parties have had the other spouse served while they had the children. The problem with this is that it is scary and stressful for the child. Sometimes, it seems, having them served in this manner just cannot be avoided, but if it can, it should be. (See my prior blog on service of process.

Think about your child,what they are experiencing and what they “SEE” before you go and do something to your soon-to-be ex-spouse.

Matthew Thompson is a Child Custody Attorney in Mississippi reminding you to SEE things through the eyes of your child.

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

Child Custody, Opinion, Visitation

It’s Soccer Saturday!

03/01/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Spring is right around the corner and soccer season is in full swing. We have a double header today and will spend most of our day outside at the soccer field.

I sponsor and coach an Under 6 girls soccer team. There are 2 critical issues when coaching 5 & 6 year old soccer. 1) Jersey Color. Our team got Pink so our season was a victory without playing a game! And, 2) Snacks! The secret to a successful soccer season is having great snacks!

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in the Magnolia State and he knows snacks!!

Follow the blog: #BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm

You may also contact Matthew with your family law case or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

divorce, General Legal

Different Laws in Different States (Get Advised by an Experienced Attorney in Your State)

02/28/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

All States have Family Law Courts, but not all Family Laws are the same throughout the Country.

Often I get calls from potential clients from other states. Either they were originally from here and did not know who else to call, their case was originally decided here, or they just heard that State “X” has a certain law. Where you can sue or be sued really regards jurisdiction, blogged previously. Today is about the fact that the law is different from State to State.

There is no uniform code of family law. All states are required to have a child support formula, but not all states calculate it the same way. All states have provisions for divorce, but some states prefer “No-fault” divorces while some require you to have fault grounds, if an agreement cannot be reached. States have different burdens of proof, residency requirements and waiting periods.

Just because your cousin’s friends got something in her divorce in Texas does not mean you can get it in Tennessee.

Matthew Thompson is a Domestic Relations Attorney in Mississippi. Be sure you call an attorney in the appropriate State.

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

General Legal

Identification is Now Required to Vote in Mississippi (Voter ID)

02/27/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Mississippi recently enacted a Voter ID requirement for most citizens in the State. Regardless of your politics, it is now the law. The Mississippi Secretary of State, Delbert Hosemann, has done a great job of getting the word out of the new requirement and how to get your Voter ID. Here’s how;

Who needs an ID?
All Mississippians voting at the polls will be required to show a photo ID card. Also, individuals voting in person by absentee ballot in the Circuit Clerk’s oﬃce prior to Election Day will be required to show a photo ID.

There are two exemptions:

RELIGIOUS OBJECTORS
Any Mississippi registered voter who states he/she does not have acceptable photo identification because of a religious objection to being photographed shall be entitled to vote by affidavit ballot without being required to show a photo ID. The ballot will not be rejected for this reason if the voter signs a separate affidavit before the Circuit Clerk within ﬁve days of the election.

ELIGIBLE ABSENTEE BALLOT VOTERS
Eligible Mississippi voters will not need a photo ID if voting by absentee ballot by mail instead of voting in person at the polls or at a Circuit Clerk’s office. This exemption also applies to eligible voters who are Uniformed Military and Overseas Voters (UOCAVA) who cast an absentee ballot by FAX or email.

WHAT IS AN ACCEPTABLE ID?

A driver’s license
A photo ID card issued by a branch, department, or entity of the State of Mississippi
A United States passport
A government employee ID card
A firearms license
A student photo ID issued by an accredited Mississippi university, college, or community/junior college
A United States military ID
A tribal photo ID
Any other photo ID issued by any branch, department, agency or entity of the United States government or any State government
A Mississippi Voter Identification Card

HOW CAN I GET A MISSISSIPPI VOTER ID CARD?
Beginning in January 2014, all Mississippi Circuit Clerk’s offices will be able to issue a FREE Mississippi Voter Identification Card to any eligible Mississippi voter who does NOT have any other form of acceptable photo ID.

WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED TO GET A VOTER ID CARD?
To get FREE Mississippi Voter Identification Card, take any ONE of the following types of documents to the Circuit Clerk’s office:

Any expired but valid photo identity document having the voter’s name and photograph issued by the U.S. government or any U.S. state
A birth certificate or any other document with the voter’s full legal name, date and place of birth
A Social Security card
A Medicare card
A Medicaid card
A Mississippi Voter Registration Card
Any of the following, as long as it includes the voter’s name and current address:
- Utility bill issued within the preceding six months
- Bank statement issued within the preceding six months
- Paycheck issued within the preceding six months
- Government check issued within the preceding six months
- IRS Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement issued within the current calendar year

WHAT IF I NEED MORE INFO?

CALL 1.855.868.3745 or 1.844.MSVOTER

or visit

http://www.MSVoterID.ms.gov

Matthew Thompson is a practicing attorney in Mississippi Family Law Courts reminding you to do your part and Vote.

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

divorce, General Legal

Do NOT take this to Court.

02/27/2014 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

Spending many hours in Courtrooms throughout the State of Mississippi I have learned some things and seen some stuff. Today are the things that you should NOT bring to Court.

So you know to bring the evidence you need, your witnesses, and your attorney. But, what should you NOT bring:

Food/Drinks. This is a standard Court rule. There are usually vending machines in the halls. Even attorneys cannot get away with this one.
Cell Phone. Again a fairly standard procedure. With every phone having audio and video recording options, cell phones are on the short-list of no-nos.
Purse. My purse? Yes. The Court does not allow purses these days. Leave it in the car.
Weapons. Any kind of weapon, including but not limited to pocket knife, scissors, obviously firearms. Most Court have metal detectors.
Hotheaded Relatives or Friends. The Court does not need your Uncle in the audience guffawing, sighing, snickering or gossiping during Court. If he cannot control himself he’ll be removed from the Courtroom anyway.
Crying Babies. The days of babies being necessary for Court are over. No longer will the jury/judge look at the baby and look at the putative father to see if there is a resemblance. Don’t take a baby to Court.

Matthew Thompson is a practicing attorney in Mississippi Divorce Court. NO SHOES, NO SHIRT, NO COURT!