Category Archives: Child Custody

What is a Deposition?

01/05/2017 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

A Deposition is an out of court, under oath interview of a party or witness. The questioning is done by the attorney of the party or witness. The questions are about the pending case, including; fault or misconduct, money and financial matters, child related issues, and almost anything else that could lead to discoverable information.

A deposition allows you to find out the answer to questions that you may otherwise not know the answer to and allows for the attorney to ask “dumb” questions.

There is a lawyer cliché to never ask a question that you do not know the answer to. The way around this is to ask in the deposition. The deposition is typically not at the Court, but at the lawyer’s office or some other agreed upon place. The deposition is not seen by the Court, at least not automatically.

Depositions serve not only to provide an opportunity for answers, but also to create pressure. Pressure to settle, pressure to try to bring the pending matter to conclusion. Depositions can be long, difficult, embarrassing, but can also provide for closure, for a party to have their say, and to “clear the air.”

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law attorney in Mississippi and has spent more hours in depositions than he cares to admit.

Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms (601) 850-8000

Child Custody, Divorce, Visitation

Parenting Rubbish

01/03/2017 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Happy New Year? Rubbish…

gallery-thumbnails — vectorolie /freedigitalphotos.net

Oftentimes, we think a new year is a new beginning, or at least it should be, but your ex will continue to let you down and disappointment reigns supreme.

Parenting Rubbish:

“Letting” the Child pick/dictate the schedule. Jr. doesn’t want to go with you. Every now and again, perhaps Jr. really doesn’t and there is good reason. However, always letting the child opt out is not good parenting.

Signing the Child up for activities to interfere with the other parent’s time. But, Jr. really wanted to play badminton. Sure, it’s every other weekend and Wednesdays, but that was just coincidence…

“Forgetting” to share milestones. Jr. was confirmed at church or Grandparent’s Day at school…well, they could have found out if they really wanted too…also, in Mississippi, the first hunting experience. Really.

Not listing the Other parent on school and medical forms. That will show them. They are not a “real” parent, instead list your new squeeze. The school won’t know.

Read more about Terrible parenting here, being Terrible in general and Rotten parenting .

Matthew Thompson is a Child Custody attorney and warns that Judge’s don’t appreciate this garbage.

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

Child Custody, Divorce, Modifications, Opinion

Encourage a Good Relationship! (Co-parenting)

12/13/2016 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

A parent has a moral and legal duty to promote a healthy, affectionate relationship between the child and the other parent!

What? You justify your conduct by saying, “I am not bad-mouthing him.” But, just not bad-mouthing him is not enough. You have an affirmative duty to promote a good relationship. (With rare exceptions for the health and safety of the child.)

Encourage, promote and truly desire a good relationship between your child and the other parent. Your child will benefit!

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law & Divorce Attorney and reminds you that a child with two parents that get along and are involved is better than the alternative.

(601)850-8000 Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

Child Custody, Divorce, Grandparent Visitation, Visitation

“Sir, Yes, Sir.” The Military is Respected in Custody Courts.

12/09/2016 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Our Military service personnel deal with serious family law issues which can be made more difficult due to their military service. Being subject to activation, deployment, required training, frequent moves and dangerous activities add to making circumstances more difficult.

However, Mississippi has specific protections for military parents.

MCA 93-5-34, provides an efficient process to resolve custody matters when dealing with a military parent. Upon such circumstances of a custodial parent serving, the statute provides that the other parent will have custody, but that custody ends within 10 days of the former custodial parent returning from service.

Additionally, it provides that the serving parent shall have reasonable access for phone and video visits. The deployed member may also delegate visitation to their own family members. These types of military custody cases receive priority by the Courts to be heard and the serving parent may “attend” via affidavit or electronic means where possible.

Lastly, a parent’s service cannot be used against that parent upon their return for a custody modification by the other parent.

Matthew Thompson is a Military Divorce Attorney in Mississippi.

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

alienation, Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce, Grandparent Visitation, Modifications, Opinion, Visitation

Are YOU a Terrible Parent?

12/02/2016 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Food, shelter and clothing are necessities and while providing them is the minimum, doing so alone does not make you a great parent.

Do you encourage a relationship between the child and the other parent?
- Just NOT badmouthing them does not make you a great parent. You should encourage and promote a good relationship. Oh, and it’s required when parties have joint legal custody.
Do you withhold financial support from your child?
- Money isn’t everything, but there is no excuse for not supporting your child.
Do you degrade the other parent to your child?
- “I don’t lie to my child!” 1) Yes, you do. Everyday, to protect them. 2) Telling them how big a scoundrel the other parent is hurts the child. Half of their identity is from that scoundrel!
Do you prevent your child from seeing the other parent or interfere with the visitation?
- Out of sight is NOT out of mind. Absence can make the heart grow fonder…

Matthew Thompson is a Child Custody Lawyer in Mississippi and reminds you to not be a terrible parent.

Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer

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

Child Custody, Visitation

Attorney Kelly Williams certified as a Child Welfare Law Specialist .

12/01/2016 BowTieLawyer 2 Comments

Kelly G. Williams is the first attorney in the state of Mississippi to be certified as a Child Welfare Law Specialist by the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC).

7726k williams-2.jpg This certification requires an applicant to pass a rigorous examination. The NACC Certification Program is the only program approved and accredited by the American Bar Association to certify attorneys as Child Welfare Law Specialists. Millions of children are the subjects of judicial proceedings each year as victims of abuse and neglect; juvenile offenders; subjects of custody, visitation and adoption proceedings; and as participants in civil damages litigation. NACC recognizes that the adversarial system works best when all interested parties are competently represented and one the goals of the NACC is to improve the lives of children and families through competent representation to ensure that judicial proceedings produce justice. (naccchildlaw.org)

Kelly may be reached at 601-982-1111 or kelly@coughlinwilliamslaw.com http://www.coughlinwilliamslaw.com.

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney in Mississippi.

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

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

Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce, General Legal, Marriage, Modifications, Opinion, Visitation

#1 Rule for Witnesses

11/10/2016 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Show up.

If you have Court and your testimony matters, show up. If the issues before the Court impact you in a “bigly” manner, show up. Rarely is a good outcome achieved in your absence, and no amount of explanation will be sufficient if you weren’t there to witness it for yourself.

When you do show up, tell the truth.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and reminds you that 99% of the time that good results are earned, it is, in part, due to the fact that you showed up.

(601) 850-8000 www.BowTielawyer.MS Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

Child Custody, Divorce, Visitation

Happy Halloween!

10/31/2016 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Boo!

It’s Halloween. A day of costumes, candy and having fun. Often, Halloween is not addressed in the divorced parent’s papers. It is after all, not a “real” holiday. However, I usually include Halloween in custody schedules.

While not a real holiday, it is nonetheless an important day in your child’s life. From picking out the costume to sneaking a Reese’s, memories are certainly made and then cherished.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Visit the website: Thompson Law Firm

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