Category Archives: General Legal

Less is More…Knowing the Dirt May Do More Harm Than Good.

02/04/2015 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

Confession is good for the Soul.

However, what’s good for the Soul may not be so good for your marriage. Sometimes knowing the details, deeds and dirt makes it impossible to “forgive.” Knowing the location of the “scene of the crime” results in PTSD every time you pass by. Knowing the name of the paramour gives you the HeeBeeGeeBees when you have a waiter/waitress with the same name. Also, even when you know all the dirt, you still wonder if you really do.

If the goal is to attempt to reconcile and work through life’s difficulties, you may well be better served by the mantra- Less is More.

Read about “The Dirt” here, “The Book of Sins” here and more on “Reconciliation” here.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and believes that sometimes ignorance is bliss. Consult your attorney, counselor or mental health professional for more info!

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.

Child Custody, Child Support, General Legal, Opinion

Family Law Bill of the Day; What Are They Thinking

01/30/2015 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

Yesterday was about a proposed change in Fault Grounds in Mississippi law. Today is about a far different change…

House Bill 714, hb0714in, seeks to declare a presumption that a child’s best interests is NOT served by being placed in the custody of a homosexual person, even if it’s the biological Parent.

Regardless of one’s political and/or religious views this would create significant problems in the law. The law currently recognizes a concept called the Natural Parent Presumption. This means that a Natural Parent is the best parent to raise their own child as they deem best. This is well founded, accepted law. Additionally, you have a Constitutional Right, as a parent, to raise your child as you best see fit, assuming you are neither neglecting nor abusing your child.

The problem that HB 714 creates is that it will in fact require a Court to conclude that a parent is presumptively fit and unfit if that parent was the natural parent and homosexual. It ignores the fact that a homosexual can be a biological parent triggering the Natural Parent Presumption, it creates a presumption of unfitness based solely on sexual orientation with NO criteria of whether that parent “acts” on said orientation and it provides no litmus test for homosexuality. This also ignores the fact that a Court may already consider the morals of parents and take that into considerations when determining Custody. It assumes bad parenting when there is no reasonable basis to do so (Click for Real Bad Parenting).

This appears, at best, to be election year pandering and, at worst, an unconstitutional restraint on a Parent’s Right to Parent. This would not withstand a Constitutional challenge, in my opinion. And, is another reason that MS will catch ridicule as being so Heavenly Focused that we’re no Earthly good.

Matthew Thompson is a Child Custody Lawyer in Mississippi and believes that the Albright Custody Factors allow for the Court to consider ALL issues that the Court deems necessary to determine custody of a child- and that’s a fact!

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.

Child Custody, divorce, General Legal

Family Law Bill of the Day – Mississippi Style

01/29/2015 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

The legislature is in session. Saturday Night Live once referred to the Mississippi Legislature as the “hissing possums.”

But, today’s blog is about proposed legislation. Senate Bill 2342-(sb2342in).

This Bill’s intent is to add a 13th “fault ground” to Mississippi Law. This ground would provide for a divorce being granted upon 5 years of separation in fact. This means if you and your spouse are married, but not living together for five years or longer and at least one of you wants a divorce, you can get a divorce. It further provides that if there are minor children that the Chancellor may deny the divorce if a divorce is found to not be in the children’s best interests.

This is a much needed change in Mississippi law and a step in the right direction. Some may say 5 years is too long, but it is better than nothing and better than the law as it currently is.

Who says that? I do.

Read about the current 12 fault grounds.

Read Why You Should Care About This Legislation here and here.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law and Child Custody Attorney in Mississippi, Adjunct Professor at MC Law in Domestic Relations and believes this provides a much needed remedy in the current law.

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

General Legal

“I am sorry…”

01/27/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Everyday people do and say things that they regret or are sorry they did. It’s not said enough. It must be meant.

In life three little words can make a difference. They can help determine whether you will have a good day or a bad day. They hold power. They can alter the course of History!

Three little words not said enough;

I love you.
I need you.
I trust you.
I am sorry.

If you are having problems in life, in work, in relationships, start using these three little words.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law attorney in Mississippi and if you need help in knowing when to use the right ‘three little words,’ he may be able to help.

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

divorce, General Legal

Being NOT Divorced Does Not a Marriage Make.

01/23/2015 BowTieLawyer 2 Comments

In Mississippi it can be ridiculously hard to get a divorce. Untying the knot can be quite the task…

Mississippi is NOT a true “No Fault” divorce state. Instead, MS requires the parties agree to the divorce and all the terms for an Irreconcilable Differences Divorce and absent that agreement you must have Fault Grounds, that can be proven.

If no agreement and no Fault Grounds, guess what? You cannot get divorced, but that does not mean you have a marriage!

Sure, legally you are married, but there is no requirement that you reside with your spouse and even if you commit an act which would entitle your spouse to a divorce it does not mean you can get the divorce- – only if they choose to seek fault grounds against you.

Time and again legislation has been proposed to eliminate this “divorce blackmail” chasm that is MS law. Time and again any compromise on divorce law has died on the vine under the auspices of “protecting families.”

Families are not being protected by laws which create legal blackmail situations. This change, by the way, if it ever happens is contrary to divorce lawyer’s self interests! If there is a more reasonable process to get a divorce, divorce lawyers make less money.

Marriages are wonderful blessings, unless they are not. It’s time for Mississippi laws to reflect that.

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce attorney in Mississippi and can help you untie the knot that became a “noose.”

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divorce, General Legal

Advice of the Day: Know When to Shut Your Mouth

01/21/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Everyday presents a lesson that we can take away and learn from.

Today’s “Advice of the Day” is: Know When to Shut Your Mouth.

When the Judge Orders you to Stop Talking? Stop Talking.
When the Other Side Agrees to What you Want? Stop Talking.
When Your Lawyer asks you to Stop Speaking? Stop Talking.
When you are Winning Greatly? Stop Talking.
When you are Losing Badly? Stop Talking.

Matthew Thompson is a family Law attorney in the Hospitality State and encourages you to ‘be still and listen.’

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

Crime, General Legal

The Judge is in Jail

01/16/2015 BowTieLawyer 2 Comments

A former Chancery Court Judge in Mississippi is on his way to Prison.

http://davidgaleuk.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/judge-in-jail.jpg

Joe Dale Walker, former Chancellor over Covington, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Simpson and Smith counties, plead Guilty in October for his on-the-bench conduct.

Federal charges included that he instructed a federal grand jury witness to destroy documents and then lied to FBI agents about it.

According to the FBI, Walker directed an attorney (the witness) he had appointed for a Conservatorship to solicit bids for the construction of a home for the ward. Of the bids obtained, one was from the Judge’s nephew. The Judge reviewed the bids in his office and instructed his nephew to increase his bid. Walker then transferred the case to the other Judge in the district for the limited purpose of accepting and approving the bid because of his nephew’s involvement. After the contract was awarded to Walker’s nephew, the case was transferred back to Walker by the second Judge.

Walker, knowing that a Grand Jury subpoena was outstanding for information concerning the bidding process, spoke with the witness about instructing his nephew to increase his bid and the original bid and any existing copies.

When interviewed by the FBI, Walker denied talking with the witness about his nephew’s bids and denied telling the witness that the original low bid needed to be “somewhere else.”

Walker was sentenced to 5 months in prison. His nephew was likewise sentenced to 5 months in prison and 5 months home confinement.

“Don’t do the Crime, if you can’t do the Time” – Detective Anthony Vincenzo “Tony” Baretta

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

General Legal

Pros and Cons of Dating an Assassin

01/15/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

“Everybody on the outside can tell me I’m crazy, but I lived on the inside and saw it firsthand,”

http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/brangelina/images/4696514/title/mr-mrs-smith-screencaps-screencap

The above are the words of Kurt Busch, a NASCAR driver known as “The Outlaw.” Busch testified- in Court, under Oath, that he believes his ex-girlfriend, Patricia Driscoll, is a trained assassin dispatched on covert missions around the world who once returned to him in a blood-splattered gown.

Driscoll is pursuing criminal charges against him for Domestic Violence and obtained a No Contact Order. Busch is attempting to have the No Contact Order removed!

So, the Pros of Dating an Assassin:

No Wait at Restaurants
Neighbors Don’t say Anything about Covenant Violations
Your Enemies “Disappear”

The Cons of Dating an Assassin:

You Break-Up, You Disappear
You Talk About Her Job, You Disappear
You Forget an Anniversary, You Disappear

The bottom line is so long as the assassin is your soul-mate you will probably be ok. If not you will probably NOT be ok.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Lawyer warning you to avoid assassins and to occasionally alternate your routines, just in case.

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