Category Archives: Child Custody

Child Custody, Crime, Visitation

Bacon, It’s What’s for Dinner

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I am frequently asked about things a divorced parent can do during their weekend with the children.

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It’s easy to run out of things “to do.” And the constant eating out, movies and going to the store can get expensive. Quickly! Here are a few things that you can do;

  • Eat Backwards, dessert first is always a treat.
  • Children’s Museum/Science Museum
  • Park/playground
  • Church Events
  • Neighborhood events
  • Play dates with friend and their parents
  • Picnics
  • Kid’s Eat Free Nights at area restaurants
  • Quiet nights at home
  • Popcorn parties
  • Celebrate Holidays you don’t “get.” Literally, Christmas in July.
  • Camping Out, even if just in the backyard.
  • Breakfast for Dinner, a time-honored tradition.

You are only limited by your imagination. Having all the money in the world doesn’t make you a great parent. Making the most with the time you have does.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney and advises his clients to make having a great relationship with your children priority #1.

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.

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Child Custody, Divorce, General Legal, Modifications

Don’t YELL in Court!

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Sometimes we lose our cool…

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It happens to the best of us. “We” get excited, animated and emotional, but you need to try to keep that in check. Lawyers are guilty of this too!

Here’s the set-up. The Divorce Agreement provides that either “party shall receive advance notice of any out of state travel, overnight, with the minor child by the other parent.“

Not an unreasonable clause. It does not require permission, but notice.

So, one parent, on multiple occasions does not give the other parent notice.  The unknowing parent finds out about the timing of the trips during their time with the child, after the trips have occurred.

What’s the harm you ask? Well, these parents live 2-states away from one another. Where was the undisclosed trip? Yes, the other parent’s home state, just a few hours away.  A great opportunity for a visit! But, alas it did not happen.

Upon questioning the parent defended not telling the other because the second parent did not ask. Here’s where the yelling comes in.

“HOW DOES THE OTHER PARENT KNOW TO ASK ABOUT THE TRIP IF YOU DON’T TELL THEM ABOUT THE TRIP ?!?“

Silence.

Read more on Rotten Parenting, Terrible Parenting and being a Terrible Person.

Matthew Thompson is a Chancery Court Attorney and warns clients and attorneys alike to not yell in Court.

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.

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Child Custody, Divorce, General Legal

Judge Race Update; Mississippi Chancery Elections

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The Chancery Judge races in Mississippi are heating up!

Click here for the most recent Update, Roberts in Rankin, Walker in Madison…

Click here for You CAN Pick your Judge.

As an update to a prior post, two districts are looking like a horse race while one appears a foregone conclusion. The Secretary of State’s latest list of candidates is filling out.

Madison, Leake, Holmes and Yazoo Counties– the 11th Chancery District is currently served by Judges Cynthia Brewer and Robert Clark, III. The legislature, due to population increases, added a third Judge position to this district.

James C. Walker

The front-runner (and only-runner) for this seat is James Walker. Walker has the backing of the majority of Family Law practitioners in the district and there are not even vague whispers of another viable candidate at this point. Walker is the current Family Master for the District, hearing Emergencies,Temporary Hearings and the types of matters the current Chancellors hear. Walker is the former staff attorney for Judge Cynthia Brewer, former staff attorney for DHS and has his own private Chancery practice law firm.

Rankin County– the 20th District is currently served by Judge John Grant. One new position has been created and another will be filled via appointment and special election at a later date, totaling three Judges for this district.

(Limited on-line information regarding these candidates was available.)

Prentiss M.  Grant

Grant has practiced for over 25 years and handled many Chancery Court cases, among criminal and personal injury areas of practice as well.

James (Jim) M. Nix

Company: Jones and Nix, PLLC
Admit Date: 06/02/1981
Physical Address: 814 N President St
Jackson, MS 39201
Mail Address: P O Box 55601
Jackson, MS 39296-5601
Phone: (601) 948-6800
Fax: (601) 948-7100
Email: jones-nix@att.net
Status: Active

Craig Slay  

Slay is the Board Attorney for the Rankin County Board of Supervisors and has practiced law for nearly 20 years.

Rusty Williard 

Admitted in 1985, Williard is a self-proclaimed “ruthless defender of the rights of children in chancery court and with juvenile defense matters, he is currently a certified Guardian Ad Litem as well as a Youth Court advocate. Rusty believes that his personal experience as a step-father has helped provide him with valuable insight about the financial and emotional dynamics of the modern blended families of today.”

“Besides belonging to the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, Rusty is a member of the Rankin County Chamber of Commerce, Hinds County Bar Association and Rankin county Bar Association. He is licensed to practice in the State of Mississippi, Federal Courts, Bankruptcy Court, and the United States Supreme Court.”

Amite, Franklin, Pike and Walthall Counties– the 4th District is currently served by one Chancellor, Debbra Halford, and is getting a much needed second Judge.

(Limited information regarding these candidates was available.)

Below is the contact info from the MS Bar Assoc.

Ashley Atkinson  

Company: Attorney at Law
Admit Date: 05/29/1969
Physical Address: 412 W Michigan Ave
McComb, MS 39649
Mail Address: P O Box 1266
McComb, MS 39649-1266
Phone: (601) 684-3535
Fax: (601) 684-3558
Email: caatkins@cableone.net
Status: Active

Conrad Mord

Company: Attorney at Law
Admit Date: 08/16/1974
Physical Address: 729 Beulah Ave
Tylertown, MS 39667
Mail Address: P O Drawer 311
Tylertown, MS 39667-0311
Phone: (601) 876-2611
Fax: (601) 876-4379
Email: conrad@mordlawfirm.com
Status: Active and currently serves as the Youth Court Referee, a.k.a. Youth Court Judge.

Michael T. Shareef

Company: MS Center for Legal Services
Admit Date: 10/31/1979
Physical Address: 221 Main St
McComb, MS 39648
Mail Address: P O Box 575
McComb, MS 39649-0575
Phone: (601) 684-0578
Fax: (601) 684-0575
Email: mshareef@mslegalservices.org
Status: Active

Wayne Smith 

Company: Attorney at Law
Admit Date: 08/20/1982
Physical Address: 151 W Main St
Liberty, MS 39645
Mail Address: P O Box 525
Liberty, MS 39645-0525
Phone: (601) 657-8994
Fax: (601) 657-8987
Email: waynesmithatty@bellsouth.net
Status: Active

As more information regarding the candidates, and their campaigns, becomes available it will be updated. Hopefully, with some campaign links and fodder one won’t need prescription meds and Redbull to stay awake perusing this blog.

Matthew Thompson is a Chancery Court Attorney and closely watching the Mississippi Chancery Court Judicial races.

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.

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Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce, General Legal, Irreconcilable differences, Marriage, Opinion, Property Division, Visitation

New Judges are Coming… 11th, 20th, & 4th Districts; The Scoop on the Candidates.

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Family Law is not necessarily full of exciting news. Sure, we have juicy stories of debauchery, but that has occurred since man became upright…

Illustration by Barbara Kelley 

But, getting 3 new Judge positions is exciting!

Governor Bryant signed into law a bill that creates 3 new judges to hear divorce, custody, child support, paternity, will, estate and land matters, among other limited areas of the law.

These 3 new judges will be over districts that have been in much demand for another Judge.

District 11 is getting a 3rd Judge. District 11 covers Madison, Leake, Holmes and Yazoo counties. The Current Judges are Cynthia Brewer and Robert Clark, III.

The candidate for this seat is James Walker (click for website). Walker is the current Family Master for the District, hearing Emergencies,Temporary Hearings and the types of matters the current Chancellors hear. Walker is the former staff attorney for Judge Cynthia Brewer and former staff attorney for DHS.  Walker is the definite front-runner (FB).

District 20 covers Rankin County and will likewise be getting a 3rd Judge.  The current Judge is John Grant.  There is a vacancy for the 2nd Chancellor due to the untimely passing of Judge Dan Fairly– which will be filled, most likely, by appointment and special election.

Craig Slay is the only candidate that has qualified for the new position, but the rumor mill has at least 4 other candidates in the mix. Slay is the Board Attorney for the  Rankin County Board of Supervisors and has practiced law for nearly 20 years. At the time of this post Slay’s social media presence was not readily apparent.

Prentiss Grant is one of those candidates. He has announced publicly to be in the running for Rankin Chancery Judge, though not listed yet on the Secretary of State’s website.  P. Grant has practiced for over 25 years and handled many Chancery Court cases, among criminal and personal injury areas of practice as well.

This will be an exciting race to watch!

District 4 covers Amite, Franklin, Pike and Walthall counties and will be getting a much needed second Chancellor.

Conrad Mord is the only candidate to toss his hat in the ring so far. Mord has practiced in the district for 40 years and currently serves as the Youth Court Referee, a.k.a. Youth Court Judge. The current lone Chancellor is Debbra Halford.

Stay tuned for all of your Family Law Judge news.  This election coverage will be updated as more candidates qualify, though not so much coverage as to be soul-crushing to the casual reader!

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney and is interested in the election process and the candidates that will decide critical issues for Families 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.

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Child Custody, Crime, Divorce, General Legal

Hacking, Passwords and Family Email Accounts; Your Information is NOT Secure

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Emails and text messages have helped “do in” more marriages, as far as evidence goes, than any Private Investigator could hope to.

What you think is deleted is NOT.  There are recovery programs and computer gurus that, for a fee, can recover that which you think is gone.

Shared emails and shared cell phone plans allow the other person the same access you have.  It’s not hacking if it’s a “joint account,” nor is it hacking if you gave them the password, even if it were years ago. It’s not criminal under these circumstances.

Key-stroking software and spyware abound. A program on the computer or your smartphone can send every button typed or your current location.

This is not so much a warning on how to cheat, but rather a warning of knowing your surroundings.  Even innocent meetings may be used against you under the right (or wrong) circumstances. Also, communications that you think or intend to be private may well not be private.

Be smart. Be safe. Be secure.

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney and warns clients to be careful on how they communicate.

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.

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Child Custody, Divorce, General Legal, Opinion

Why Do I Need a Private Investigator?

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Private Investigation is not as glamorous, or as easy, as you think it is…

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Why should I get a P.I.?

They know what they are doing. (usually)

They are good at what they do. (usually)

They are professional, will document their efforts and testify in Court.

They can be objective and unemotional about your circumstances.

They aim to satisfy as they care about their reputation.

Why doing it myself is a bad idea?

You do NOT know what you are doing.  (Watching old reruns of Magnum PI does not qualify you for the job)

You are NOT good at it.  You will get caught following too closely, spotted watching them, seen taking an obvious picture, or will lose them in the crowd.

You’re efforts will be viewed as biased. (of course you will say you saw him cheating, you’re trying to get a divorce!)

You CANNOT be objective nor unemotional. (the desire to confront her will be almost unbearable)

You do not care what anybody thinks!!  (He’s a perv!!)

Read more on what a Private Investigator needs from you.

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney and has seen the P.I. at the restaurant, “on the clock” and knew NOT to say hello!

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.

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Child Custody, Divorce, General Legal, Irreconcilable differences, Marriage

The Worst Fault Grounds Ever = A Divorce.

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Emotional abuse, verbal abuse, multiple affairs are all grounds for divorce in Mississippi.

David Castillo Dominici /freedigital photos.net

But, what if your spouse was really bad?  What if they said, as my grandmother-in-law used to say, “both words?”  IE: “I was so mad that I said ‘both words!'” What if you had really, really bad grounds and lots of it?

That gets you a divorce.

One affair or 1,000= a divorce. Being incarcerated for 1 year or for life = a divorce. Abandonment and the other grounds, if proven, gain you a divorce.

Here’s what Fault does not equate too.  “Getting taken to the cleaners.”

A mother having an affair does not lose custody because of that fact alone. A father who cheats does not have to pay the wife due to that fact alone. The Court, instead, looks at the totality of the circumstances.  If you are a good parent despite your fault you will still get to see your child.  If it was a short marriage or your spouse makes more than you, you will not have to pay a boat load just because you messed up.  Courts do not “punish” you financially for affairs, usually.

Just because you messed up does not mean you have to continue messing up. Just because you messed up does not mean you will pay for it the rest of your days. But, if you are messing up Stop now and call an attorney.

Matthew Thompson is an Attorney practicing Divorce Law in Mississippi and may can help you even if you really, really messed up.

Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer 

Visit the website: Thompson Law Firm

You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or more information on Child Custody and Divorce. (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms.

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Child Custody, Divorce, General Legal, Opinion, Visitation

Do You Pass “The SleepOver Challenge?”

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Sometimes being a Family Law Attorney leads to having information that you wish you did NOT have.

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From swinging key parties to recreational substance abuse, you would be surprised to learn what good, normal people are doing, even your neighbors.

One way to determine if your conduct is “ok” is to ask yourself “Do I pass the SleepOver Challenge?” This simple test is would you allow your child(ren) to go to a sleepover at so-and-so’s house if you knew they were doing whatever it is that you are doing.

If your answer is “yes” then in the eyes of a Judge you’ll probably be fine, (assuming you are in the bounds of societal norms, whatever that means).  If your answer is “no” it’s time to re-examine what you are doing.

And, if you have some rally bizarre behind closed doors conduct, just disregard this, keep it to yourself and don’t invite anyone for a sleepover.

Matthew Thompson is a Child Custody Attorney practicing Family Law in Mississippi.

Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer 

Visit the website: Thompson Law Firm

You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or more information on Child Custody and Divorce. (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms.

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