They can be long, boring and seemingly insignificant. Go anyway. You have to sit by people you don’t know and talk to people with coffee breath. Go anyway.
They are precious milestones that will be over too soon. Graduation, Field Day, Grandparent’s Day, AR Recognition, Chapel, plays, musicals, ball games and spelling bees. Go.
Matthew Thompson is a Family Law attorney that tries to make these events a priority and reminds you to never refuse a breath mint.
www.BowTieLawyer.ms (601)850-8000
The first text message was sent in 1992 from Neil Papworth, a former developer at Sema Group Telecoms. Mobile phones didn’t have keyboards at the time, so Papworth had to type the message on a PC. Papworth’s text — “Merry Christmas” — was successfully sent to Richard Jarvis at Vodafone. http://mashable.com/2012/09/21/text-messaging-history/#7WcM8gVdbZqj
A two-word message was the first text message and is a good general guide for how long your messages should be. Texting a novel is NOT a good idea. It is hard to read. Punctuation is an afterthought. Grammar rules are ignored. There is no tone in text messages.
A text message novel is a mere paragraph in an email. In an email form it is not daunting or harassing. In text form it is over the top. Send short texts. Save the longer messages for an email or even a letter.
Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and reminds you to avoid sending a novel length text message.
Matthew Thompson www.BowTieLawyer.ms (601) 850-8000
It seems our “lives” are lived on FaceBook, for better and for worse.
A short marriage came to an abrupt end when the parties realized that they did not really know each other. It was not a first marriage for either party, a whirlwind courtship and a tumultuous coupling that lead to separation after 9 months.
The husband sought an easy “no-fault” divorce. She would keep hers plus he pays her some starting over money, he keep his and they go their separate ways. She did not respond.
Well, she actually hired a lawyer and sued him for everything; a fault based divorce, 1/2 of the house, 1/2 of his retirement, that he buy her a car, permanent alimony, plus she retains all of her stuff. Again, all of this based on a 9 month marriage. It’s important to note that he had the house prior to marriage, the bulk of the retirement prior to marriage and the car was a lease that was to be turned in.
She was aggressive to a fault. She sought a temporary hearing and asked for temporary alimony. She didn’t get it. We then went through the discovery process. We sought records, arrest and otherwise.
Finally, a break through…she posted on FaceBook that she was engaged! To her Soulmate!
I sent her lawyer a note. It said “Great news! I hear congratulations are in order. Your client has announced her engagement. Attached are the pictures she posted, plus a pic of an impressive engagement ring…it’s high time this case settle. Attached is our proposal to settle all issues. Please review, sign where indicated and return to me. In the event this does not resolve this matter we will be filing an Amended Answer and Counterclaim consistent with these revelations.“
The case settled that day via an easy “no-fault” divorce. She kept hers plus he paid her some starting over money, he kept his and they went their separate ways.
Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Divorce Attorney and is equally grateful and frustrated that FaceBook exists.
“Can you believe that he texted me this?!?”
What did he text?
“When can I see the kids?”
So?
“He’s DEMANDING TO TAKE THE CHILDREN!”
Sometimes a text is just a text. The tip of the day is to not read tone into to text messages. On numerous occasions I have had clients read exchanges between themselves and their ex. They read their own words in an angelic voice, but their ex’s in a tone that is a maniacal monster. They literally change their tone of voice when reading the ex’s messages. It’s fascinating to watch. However, it can be counter productive.
Text messages are not proper English. Words are abbreviated. Punctuation is often non-existent. This blog struggles with correct grammar. Text messages don’t even try to be grammatically correct.
Applying tone allows for the potential of miscommunication, may result in an unreasonable response and can get you all riled up unnecessarily. Even if there is tone what difference does it make? Respond thinking that a judge may see this one day.
Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Divorce Attorney and tries daily to not read tone into text messages.
There’s an old joke…”You have the Right to remain silent, but do you have the Ability?”
While my primary practice area is Family Law, there is some spillover into other areas. Through the years, I have learned there are just some things you do not say to law enforcement.
5. I did it!
4. I only had a couple.
3. Trying to meet your quota?
2. Oink, oink.
1. I called you because he stole my marijuana pipe.
Matthew Thompson is a Family Law attorney in Mississippi and advises you to be respectful of law enforcement a nd not say these things.
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
We have the chance everyday to be a jerk.
Sometimes being the jerk is fun. Telling that so-and-so what you think of them can really be cathartic, but so can not telling them. What you do NOT know is what they have just been through. Maybe them deserving the jerk treatment really has nothing to do with you, the whole “a mile in their shoes” line of thought.
Today, I thought about being the jerk, but decided against it. I am glad I did.
Matthew Thompson is a divorce attorney and gets paid to be a jerk!
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
(601) 850-8000 - - BowTieLawyer.MS 