Category Archives: Marriage

Happy Anniversary; The “Secret” to Wedded Bliss.

07/29/2013 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

My parents recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary!

As I was inquiring about how long it “felt,” I was struck by the fact it was literally longer than a lifetime for my two brothers and me. I was asking dad about his “advice” and he recounted that in those 45 years that mom “never forget anything.” Mom laughed out loud. That’s LOL for the texting generation.

What I did NOT get were the clichés of never going to bed angry, that they just grew apart, or that us moving out(the kids) left them with nothing in common. So what did I takeaway from that? Keep a sense of humor. It was a big part of my life growing up. Laughing at yourself and others, primarily others. The cliché that did work and that is still working “laughter is the best medicine.”

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Divorce, General Legal, Marriage, Opinion

Want Unconditional Love? Get a Puppy.

07/12/2013 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

A happy, healthy husband-wife relationship is a wonderful thing. Though some would argue, increasingly rare.

Due to various reasons that relationship can break down. Recently, I was inquiring about the reasons for the breakdown of a marriage and it came down to the feeling of the lack of unconditional love (UL).

Upon some additional questions I learned that UL, in this instance, meant something to the effect of, “I can do whatever I want, and you HAVE to love me…” Or stated in less offensive terms, “while I may not always put you first, I NEED to always be put first.”

I thought that’s not really UL. Then I thought, how can a relationship on this Earth between a husband and a wife, or any relationship between consenting adults really be one based upon UL? If it really was UL, would that be a healthy relationship? Would the receiver of UL fully appreciate what they are getting? Would the giver of UL ever be satisfied?

UL is what a puppy gives. ALWAYS happy to see you. Always eager to please. Cannot wait to be with you again and cute as the dickens. But even puppies get tired and poop on the floor…

Want the closest thing to unconditional love? Get a puppy. Want a healthy relationship? It takes work, mutual companionship and a desire to make it last.

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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, Marriage, Modifications, Opinion

5 More What NOT To-Dos in Family Law

06/18/2013 BowTieLawyer 2 Comments

I have blogged on FaceBook Don’ts several times. 5 Family Law FaceBook Don’ts & 5 More FaceBook Don’ts. This one is a little more general, but are still things NOT to do in Family Law matters.

Don’t Follow Bad Advice Blindly. If your attorney advises you to break into the house and take everything, including the dishwasher and the stove, think twice. Who does that? Who gives that advice? How could a Judge ever think that was a good thing? Click here for more. Bad Advice = Bad Lawyer.
Don’t Make it a WAR if you Don’t Have to. It only makes the lawyers more money. You get less. Go to WAR only when it is absolutely necessary. Life and safety.
Don’t Solely Blame the Other Side. This piece is sometimes tough to swallow. That SOB you married may be mostly at fault, and sometimes completely at fault, but it’s rare that it is one side’s fault 100%. Acknowledging your culpability, at least to yourself, will help you process what you are going through.
Don’t Bad Mouth the Other Parent. It may be true. He may deserve it. You may tell the Judge, your counselor and your lawyer. No one else needs to know.
Don’t Forward the Children Communications Between you and the Other Parent. This is so inappropriate. Placing the children in the middle of a parental dispute is a classic symptom of parental alienation. If you are doing this you better watch out. You may not be able to stop the advice given in number 2, above.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law attorney and tries to give good advice. It may still not be easy to follow, but it is designed to create less havoc, not more, usually.

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Child Custody, Child Support, Crime, Divorce, General Legal, Marriage, Modifications, Opinion

What’s the Right Answer? (Family Law Conundrums)

06/14/2013 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

Basic Family Law 101: (in most instances)

If you don’t know what the “right” legal answer is, do what’s “right,” and you’ll be fine.

-Matthew Thompson

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi. That is all.

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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, Divorce, General Legal, Marriage, Modifications, Opinion

Car Wreck Attorney = Car Wreck Divorce

05/24/2013 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

Hiring a Non-Family Lawyer for your Family Law Case May NOT be Best. I am not disparaging Car Wreck attorneys, except to the extent that they should not be taking on a contested divorce case unless they know what they are doing.

All too often I find myself dealing with a client’s divorce after the fact. After they had a non-family law attorney “handle” it for them. It is NOT pretty.

There is a misconception among attorneys that regardless of anything else, you can always do Divorces and Wills. This claim has shown true, especially in the economic climate we are currently experiencing. There is a glut of “divorce” attorneys who aren’t.

The benefits of having an experienced attorney handle your matter are countless. An experienced attorney knows the ins and outs of the law, knows the particulars of the local judges, and knows the other attorneys that practice in the area. This knowledge and experience is INVALUABLE. Additionally, experience is the best teacher. Practicing family law for close two decades, or longer, is always advantageous to 1) having studied domestic relations in law school and 2) helped your neighbor’s cousin in his divorce.

Want to know that you are being represented and represented well, get an attorney experienced in the area of law you need. Want your divorce to be a Car Wreck, hire a Car Wreck attorney.

Matthew Thompson is an experienced family law attorney in Mississippi and would hire a car wreck attorney to handles his car wreck case, not a divorce.

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You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000

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

Happy Mother’s Day!

05/12/2013 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Mother’s are the most important influence in a child’s life. A mom’s job is never done and frequently is under-appreciated, overworked and underpaid, except maybe “fringe” benefits.

The modern holiday of Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother in West Virginia. Jarvis began a campaign to make “Mother’s Day” a recognized holiday in the United States. Officially Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1914. This holiday was adopted by other countries and it is now celebrated all over the world. – Wikipedia

Mother’s Day is also routinely addressed in Custody and Visitation schedules. Under most Orders, Mom gets Mother’s Day regardless of whose weekend it is and it can include either the day or the entire weekend. In the few instances where this is overlooked, I still encourage dad to allow mom this time to be with the children.

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney in Mississippi and wishes all the Mothers in his life Happy Mother’s Day!

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You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@wmtlawfirm.com.

Divorce, General Legal, Irreconcilable differences, Marriage, Modifications

Wild Divorce Laws; The Undivorce, Reconstructing a Marriage

05/08/2013 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

One of my first posts on this site, way back, was a cut and paste job of an article I wrote a few years back for the Mississippi Bar Family Law Section Newsletter. It was entitled, I am an Undivorce Attorney. I am re-blogging on it because, one) I have a significantly greater audience now, and two) I like writing about good news in divorce law. I am still an Undivorce Attorney.

In Mississippi, you can legally UNDIVORCE! Yes, you can have your judgment of divorce revoked by the Court that granted it. This is not a remarriage, but rather judicially undoing the legal divorce. Why, you ask? Well, just like sometimes people marry the wrong person, sometimes they got it right the first time and divorced the wrong person.

MCA 93-5-31, provides that a judgment of divorce may be revoked at any time by the Court that granted it. The Court may require “satisfactory proof of reconciliation,” as well as “such regulation as it may deem proper.” It requires a joint application of both parties. The process can be fairly simple and quick.

Upon approval by the Court, you can have your divorce erased and it’s as if you were never legally divorced. You get “credit” for being married those years you were not, so 25 years still equals 25 years.

This is a very unique quirk in MS law and not widely known. In fact, a few judges, I have heard, have questioned whether they had the authority to do an undivorce and if it was legal. They do and it is.

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney in Mississippi and whether you marriage was a mistake or your divorce was a mistake, I can help!

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You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000

Divorce, General Legal, Marriage, Opinion

Purple Panty Pull-downs

04/17/2013 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Gotcha! Purple Panty Pull-downs, (a.k.a. Hunch Punch, Whoop Juice) is a college party drink of too much alcohol, kool-aid, sprite, and ice. It can lead to poor judgment, hangovers, injuries, arrests and other sordid outcomes. However it tastes good! When mixed right it is cold, sweet and easily drinkable. It “feels” safe. You cannot fully appreciate the danger.

Similarly, threats to your marriage can seem sweet. Contacting an old friend, meeting a business colleague for drinks or meeting someone new at an event and hitting it off. These interactions are new, exciting, fun and “feel” safe. But be careful.

A non-scientific poll conducted on Facebook by colleague and friend, Craig Robertson, revealed common places and common themes in affairs. Affairs typically do not happen with strangers. They are persons that we know. Persons from work, from our past, friends of the family and church – yes, Church! It happens. It’s the people you see at the grocery and the coffee shop and your kid’s friend’s parents.

So, should you be a recluse, a shut-in and avoid all other human interaction? No. Just be aware of your surroundings. Act intentionally.

When you see the cooler full of Purple Panty Pull-downs, Watch Out!

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney and in the words of Sir Winston Churchill, “The water was not fit to drink. To make it palatable, we had to add whisky. By diligent effort, I learnt to like it.” But don’t lose your wits about you.