Category Archives: Divorce

Divorce, General Legal, Opinion

MS Bar Exam: 3 strikes and back to law school

Leave a comment

The Mississippi Supreme Court just enacted a new rule, effective 2020, for hopeful attorneys-to-be.

Matthew Thompson was interviewed by WLBT while attending Scout Camp regarding the new MS Bar Exam Rule change. It’s hard to take a good picture of a video…

There is now a rule regarding the number of times you may take the bar exam unsuccessfully before remedial education is mandatory. Upon 3 unsuccessful attempts, a test-taker must attend 12 additional hours of law school before sitting for the bar exam again.

Previously there was no set limit. Two Supreme Court Justices disagreed with the rule change, but not because it was too tough. One justice was in favor of a 3-strikes your’re out and another supported 5-strikes and you’re out.

There have been mixed responses to this rule change and the above link features area attorney’s reactions, including your truly.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law attorney in Mississippi, passed the bar exam on his first attempt and if all goes to plan will not have to take another bar exam – – ever…

Divorce, General Legal, humor, Opinion

How to set yourself apart…

Leave a comment

Lawyer advertising can still have a stigma attached to it. It’s a throw back to the “good ‘ol days,” I guess.

However, we all advertise, or market, in some way. The bow tie is a marketing tool. Well, today my friend Graham Carner gave me his “card.” It’s a poker chip. It says his practice areas, website and phone number. It’s also the first time I’ve seen a chip/card.

Kudos to Graham. Perhaps the bow tie bottle openers are not as far-fetched as I’ve been told!

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney in Mississippi and is typically the only lawyer under 70 in a bow tie.

Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce, Opinion, Visitation

Best Parenting Advice; Be Consistent and Be Positive

1 Comment

No, this isn’t a Tony Robbins webinar.

This advice comes from years of custody disputes, multiple counselors, being a parent and seeing a lot of what-not-to-do.

#1 Be Consistent

Be there. Show up when you are supposed to. Be there when you can in addition to when you are supposed to. Be supportive mentally, emotionally, financially. Be calm. Be steady. Be there.

#1A Be Positive.

Be a good example. Be a positive role model. Say nice things about your child. Say nice things about the other parent. Be reassuring. Be encouraging. Be loving. Be affectionate.

That’s it. Do those things. You’ll win at parenting.

Matthew Thompson is a child custody attorney in Mississippi and encourages all parents to be consistent and be positive, even you.

(601)850-8000 Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

Child Custody, Divorce, General Legal, Visitation

School records, grades and cooperation…

Leave a comment

If you’re a parent you are entitled to your child’s school record, grades and information.

This is true regardless of the type of custody or visitation you have. This is true regardless of whether the other parent gives it to you or not. You are entitled to it by law in Mississippi. MCA 93-5-26

So, how do you get it?

  • Ask the other parent.
  • Ask the teacher.
  • Ask the guidance counselor.
  • Ask the principal.
  • Ask the guardian ad litem.
  • Formally request it in writing.
  • Have your lawyer request it.
  • and if all else fails
  • Issue a Subpoena.

Be nice, be professional, but be assertive.

The few exceptions to this are if your parental rights have been terminated and/or the child has been adopted or if there is a Court Order preventing you access.

Matthew Thompson is a Child custody lawyer in Mississippi and encourages you to be involved in your child’s schooling.

Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms (601)850-8000

Divorce, General Legal

An Apple a Day…

Leave a comment

“An apple a day keeps the Doctor away,” may be getting replaced with an “Apple today keeps the Divorce attorney away!”

Your iPhone is NOT great at keeping secrets. All calls, texts and emails are trackable, if not recoverable. It links to the Cloud and backs up your photographs, even the ones you delete. It knows what apps you have downloaded, it knows when you are sleeping, it knows when you’re awake, it knows when you’ve been good or bad…

So, what can you do? You can upgrade your device. If there is no case pending, no request to preserve evidence, no issued subpoena or a discovery request, you can get rid of it.

What did Tom Brady do? He got rid of it.

What did Hillary Clinton do? She got rid of it.

What did Nevada Barr do? She “took a cold chisel and a hatchet; I tore it apart; I then took all of the pieces that were inside of it and I put them in the metal box; I burned it by pouring gasoline over it, and I shoveled it into a plastic bag and I dumped it in a bayou.”

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law attorney in Mississippi and does NOT advise the spoliation of evidence, obstruction of justice or Russian collusion, but you can upgrade your cell phone or laptop.

Crime, Divorce, humor

Man Robs Bank Hoping to Get Sent to Prison to Escape Wife, Sentenced to House Arrest.

Leave a comment

Kansas City, Kansas. John Ripple walked into a bank and handed the teller a note demanding cash and stating he had a gun. The teller handed over $2,924.00. Ripple then sat in the lobby for police to arrive.

Ripple surrendered. Upon his arrest, he told investigators that he wrote the note in front of his wife, telling her he’d rather be in in jail than live with her.

Prior to sentencing, Ripple sought leniency as he was facing up to 37 months in prison. Ripple cited his recent heart surgery and depression, causing him to not “be himself.” Interestingly, the bank vice president and teller also supported a lesser sentence.

In a twist of fate, the Court sentenced Ripple to 6-months of home confinement. Sentencing him to the fate he was seeking to escape. There has been no update as to whether he was seeking post-conviction relief for cruel and unusual punishment, being forced to live with your spouse.

Matthew Thompson is a divorce attorney in Mississippi and reminds you there are easier ways than robbing a bank to get divorced.

http://www.BowTieLawyer.ms (601)850-8000

Divorce

An honest lawyer…

Leave a comment

BowTieLawyer.ms (601)850-8000

Divorce

tlf Spotlight: Chad King

Leave a comment

Facebook, despite its many flaws, has a great feature showing memories and photographs from the past. Today it reminded me of Chad King.

Chad and I have worked together for 15 years in the family law arena. Neither was a lawyer so many years ago…

Chad brings with him over a decade of family law experience, having served as law clerk, paralegal and office administrator over his many years of working in the legal community, and now as Associate Attorney.

Chad handles family law cases such as divorce, alimony, child custody and support and also heads up adoptions and termination of parental rights on the plaintiff’s side, as well as the defense of same.

Chad earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Mississippi College School of Law in 2015, where he served as President of the Family Law Society and as a Student Attorney in the Adoption Clinic. He also served as an Adjunct Professor in Paralegal Studies at Hinds Community College.

Chad is an integral partner at TLF and the many, many families in Mississippi are better off because of Chad’s service.

THANK YOU!

Chad King is a Divorce and Family Law Attorney in Mississippi  and prefers “No Tie” over a Bow Tie.

Phone: (601) 850-8000       Blog: bowtielawyer.ms

Fax:      (601) 499-5219    Email: Chad@BowTieLawyer.ms