Category Archives: Opinion

Child Custody, Child Support, divorce, Opinion, Visitation

Best Parenting Advice; Be Consistent and Be Positive

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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

General Legal, Opinion

Make History Mississippi

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Here’s your chance to be a part of history-in-the-making, changing Mississippi for the better.

There is a movement afoot to change/adopt a state flag that celebrates MS, while respecting her heritage. (…at least the heritage worthy of respect.)

The above link is a pre-order for a specialized car tag with a proposed new flag for MS. I for one support and encourage a change. I encourage you to join in, show your support and be a part of making History in Mississippi.

#StennisFlag #PutItUp

#BowTieLawyerMS (601)850-8000

General Legal, Opinion

Hot & Cold; Family Law’s balancing act

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We all have “bad days.” The same is true for the judge, your lawyer and you.

Ruleville, MS water towers. Photo by Matthew Thompson

Part of the reason that Court is so unpredictable is because there are humans involved in the process. You just do not know what that other persons has had to deal with the last day, week, or month. Those outside influences, while they should not impact a case, can effect the outcome.

When the judge has a “bad” day, lawyers get chastised, witnesses “corrected” and rulings may be delayed. When lawyers have “bad” days client got to jail!

A short post today and not a lot of solutions, however the take away is show grace and until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes, you do not know what someone else is dealing with.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and former Photo Editor/Photograph for MC Law’s Legal Eye student newspaper.

General Legal, Opinion

Judging the Judge

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There are a smattering of sites devoted to ostracizing a few select judges. These usually pop up when one party feels so aggrieved that they decide to let the whole world know about it. There is nowhere online that judges are celebrated.

Now there is a place to do this. The Robing Room. This site is a place where Judges are Judged. It reports to be operated by attorneys and is based in New York City!

The site lists Judges by Federal and State Districts. The Mississippi page, linked here, has Judges listed by County and by Circuit or Chancery District. The listings have not been updated in some time, and a number of the judges are not judges anymore due to retirement and elections.

There are only a handful of reviews for Mississippi, but other states have more. I assume the dearth of information is because this is not a commonly known site in Mississippi.

So if you love your judge or love to tell the world how bad he/she is, now is your chance. The site states the postings are anonymous, though require an email to post a rating. The rating provides for a numerical score on multiple characteristics and allows for comments.

Matthew Thompson is a Family law attorney and knows the judges may groan about this. However, the positions are non-partisan, elected and subject to public scrutiny or praise. Be the judge that gets the praise.

Child Custody, Opinion

Be a Better Parent…

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Protecting your child is your #1 priority…

It’s not attacking the other parent. It’s not making up false allegations. It’s not telling the same lies, time and time again. It’s not making false abuse allegations. It’s not telling anyone who will listen your “woe is me tale.”

Be there. Do what you are supposed to do, every time. Be honest. Be professional. Admit your mistakes and learn from them. Don’t double down on the same bad behaviors that got you into the fight in the first place.

Being a better parent is a lot of work and can be hard, but it’s worth it. Your child deserves it.

Matthew Thompson is a child custody lawyer, a dad, and is encouraging you to be a better parent. Start today. It’s not too late.

#ThompsonLawFirm #BowTieLawyer.MS #(601)850-8000

General Legal, humor, Opinion

Happy Valentine’s Day, Soulmate!

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Here’s an interesting article on What Divorce Lawyers think about Soulmates.  One contributor to the article includes my friend and colleague from Atlanta, Randy Kessler.

And here are 5 signs that that special someone is NOT your soulmate.

Matthew Thompson is a divorce attorney wishing you a very special and happy Valentine’s Day!

divorce, Opinion

Mississippi; Still #1 in the most difficult state to get a divorce…

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This is not a pro divorce post. This is a common sense divorce post.

48 States* have divorce laws that allow for a divorce if one party seeks a divorce. Mississippi does not allow this. Mississippi requires either an agreement to all terms or you must have fault grounds.

A recent Bill attempted to add as a fault ground, actual separation for a period of 3 years:

Thirteenth.* Willful and continued separation without cohabitation, with the intent not to return or resume or otherwise continue the marital relationship, for not less than three (3) years. Either party may have a divorce based on this cause.

This Bill, authored by Sally Doty, never made it out of committee and died.

Why should you care? Because Mississippi law, as it exists right now, promotes divorce blackmail.

You can be anti-divorce and still acknowledge that some people need to be divorced, even absent adultery and abuse.

*South Dakota is the other state that does not recognize true no-fault divorce.

*There are currently 12 fault grounds for divorce in Mississippi.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law attorney and is in favor of amending the divorce statutes.

Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer 

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Child Custody, divorce, General Legal, Opinion

It’s Your Case…Prepare to Work.

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Hiring a lawyer can be nerve-wracking. It can also be a relief. However, the hard work is not over, even when you hire the right one for you.

I have heard the criticism more than a few times that “I hired that lawyer and I did ALL the work!” Well, yeah, there is a lot for a litigant to do.

You, as the party to a case, have the answers, or at least access to the answers. Within a case, there are a lot of processes to follow. You have to answer written Interrogatories. These are questions the other side gets to ask that you have to answer under oath. These can easily be 30-40 pages, or more!

The other side can request documents requiring you to pour over all of your prior tax records, bank records, credit card statements, pictures that you consider evidence, videos, diaries, notes, memos, texts…all of which takes a mountain of effort and time to gather. And, you have to do it.

The other side can take your deposition, an under oath interview. You have to prepare for that. 

All of this legal jujitsu can result in a trial. You have to prepare for that. You have to know the facts of your case. You have to recall incidents and testify truthfully. You have to be specific. You have to know what you want and why.  

A good lawyer will know the process and all the steps, but you will still have to do some heavy lifting. 

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Divorce and Custody lawyer and cautions you that you will have a lot of work ahead of YOU to do your case right.