Category Archives: divorce

Why You NEED a Lawyer.

On the heels of “Just One Simple Question” comes the second most asked question, “Do I need a Lawyer?”

If you are asking the question you probably need a lawyer. Lawyers aren’t all evil and repugnant beings, perhaps many, but not all.

Lawyers that are experienced in the area you need help in usually are very valuable.  This can be seen often in family law.  Many times I have seen bad deals that the client entered into because they did not know better or they were told it was standard.

Clients have agreed to paying more monies than they would have owed and frankly more than they can really afford. I have seen agreements that limited a parent’s access to a child for no good reason. I saw one agreement where the parties agreed to each maintain a million dollars in whole life insurance.  Neither knew what that meant or the actual expense they were actually agreeing to be responsible for. I have seen many agreements that call for the sale of property, such as the home, but do not address the terms of the sale, who pays what until it’s sold, who claims the mortgage interest deduction, and what happens if the parties cannot agree on negotiations.

Lawyers can help. Really.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law  Attorney in Mississippi and if you find yourself asking if you need an attorney, you r probably do.

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

SpeakerPhone Faux Pas; Advise if it’s “OK” to Speak Freely!

Our hands free devices, speaker phones and Bluetooth devices make connecting super convenient.  They also make it super easy to speak out of turn!

That inappropriate joke, the slew of curse words that you harangue your old college buddy with may not be appropriate over the Bluetooth speakers in the minivan.

Likewise, conversations between you and your attorney may not be appropriate to have in a public place or in front of others, even if they are not curse-filled diatribes. The fact that another person is present means the information they heard is not protected by attorney-client privilege.

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce and Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and reminds you to respect the duck and ask if it’s ok to speak freely.

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

Megan Copley, Esq. – Thompson Law Firm, pllc

THOMPSON LAW FIRM, PLLC,  IS PLEASED TO  ANNOUNCE THAT MEGAN COPLEY HAS JOINED THE FIRM.

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MEGAN COPLEY received her Doctor of Jurisprudence, cum laude, from Mississippi College School of Law in 2015. She received both her Bachelors and Masters of Business Administration from Mississippi State University.  

During law school, Megan interned as Law Clerk for United States District Court Chief Judge Sharion Aycock in Aberdeen, Mississippi. She also served as Secretary of the Mississippi Association for Justice, Mississippi College School of Law Chapter.

Megan practices criminal law, divorce, child custody, child support, modification of alimony or support, and landlord tenant law.

Megan is married to Ryan Copley and they have two children, Adison Claire and Joeleigh Ryan, and they live in Pelahatchie, Mississippi.

Megan Copley is a Criminal Law and Domestic Relations Attorney in Mississippi  and can advise when, why and when NOT to invoke your 5th Amendment right!

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

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

Chad King, Esq.- Thompson Law Firm,pllc

THOMPSON LAW FIRM, PLLC,  IS PLEASED TO WELCOME CHAD KING AS ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY.

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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 will be handling family law cases such as divorce, alimony, child custody and support and will also be handling adoptions.

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

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

Sometimes you Just Can’t Stay Friends…

“Lets just be friends.” 

We’re all adults here, right? Sure, we think we can remain friends even if our partnership didn’t work out, but sometimes you cannot stay friends. It’s too hard. It brings up the same issues that made the partnership not work.

It does not mean you have to be enemies. It does not mean you have a nemesis and have to hate each other, but staying friends can be hard.

Having and keeping a relationship is hard work. Both have to be committed to make it go. If one is not, it will not work.

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce and Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and reminds you that there are approximately 7 billion people on the planet. There are plenty of other persons that can be your friend.

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

 

The Verdict is in…

 
May your Christmas be as gratifying as Calvin’s!  
 

Get Off the Crazy Train, NOW!

Divorce can make you crazy.

The process is hard, confusing, emotional, and sometimes contrary to common sense.

It can be easy to lose yourself in the emotion and overreact. Don’t. Think before you act. Respond deliberately in a fashion calculated to help your case, your kids and ultimately yourself.

I have seen the Crazy Train too often. It always, always goes off of the rails. I have seen the horrible FaceBook postings about this parent and that parent. I have seen the game playing of bad mouthing one parent to school officials or friends. I have seen improper papers delivered demanding this result or that result. I’ve seen parents manipulate a child to fear and loathe the other. I have seen the schedule used to interfere with the other parent’s time.

Get off the Crazy Train NOW.

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce and Child Custody Attorney in Mississippi, the Hospitality State, and recommends you get off the crazy train.

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

 

The Hardest Check to Return; Paying Your Alimony Early and the Pitfalls of “Acceptance”?

Harold Hamm, oil tycoon of Continental Resources sent his ex a check for $974.8 million!

However, she rejected the check delivered to her lawyers.

Hamm immediately sent the full cash value of what a divorce ruling by an Oklahoma County judge determined he owed.  The check was refused because “Ms. Arnall did not want to risk the dismissal of her appeal by acceptance of the benefits.”

Reports indicated that Mr. Hamm was worth some $18 billion and Ms. Arnall’s near-billion dollar payoff seemed paltry to she and her legal team, hence her appeal of the Court’s ruling.

That would be a hard check not to accept!

*Ultimately she did accept the payment and her appeal was dismissed.

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce and Alimony Attorney in Mississippi and reminds you that the #1 rule, when we’re fighting over stuff and not people, is to take the money.

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