Category Archives: Opinion

Gratitude and Thanks.

11/24/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

The advice for the Thanksgiving season is for clients to thank those persons that helped them navigate the troubled waters of divorce. This thanks is for family members, friends, and/or anyone who helped them through the process. Those were the ones there for you when you needed them. Thanks.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in the Hospitality State and knows that a little gratitude can go a long way.

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, Marriage, Opinion

Friends Don’t Let Friends Post on the Internet

11/18/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

We’ve blogged on not posting ignorant or incriminating things on FaceBook. (5 FaceBook Don’ts)&(5 More Don’ts).

The prior posts really dealt with you avoiding bad behavior, or at least bragging about it publicly. But, your obligation to be smart should not stop there.

You should not let your friends post hate or trash either. Using a surrogate does not insulate you from the potential carnage. That well-meaning friend being critical of your ex, or their new squeeze, is a direct reflection of your inner thoughts, even if it’s not!

Ask that your well-meaning friend refrain. That they not post about how evil, vile and repulsive your ex is, about how ugly, inside and out, his/her new soul mate is. They can think it, you will probably even talk about it over Mexican and margaritas, but don’t post it on the Internet.

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney in Mississippi and uses FaceBook and other social media sites a lot more than you probably realize.

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

divorce, Marriage, Opinion

Things you CAN Cheat on…

11/16/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

We’re constantly told, reminded and scolded about what we cannot cheat on. But, there are some things you can cheat on, or things that even if you do the consequences are not so dire.

Woman holding a burger at a table with burgers, fries, salad, pizza, and drinks — A woman enjoys a burger on her cheat day surrounded by various foods

#1. Your Diet. Go ahead and cheat. “Tomorrow” is the most popular day to start a diet anyway, followed closely by “next Monday.”

#2. Video Games. While you do not want to teach your children to cheat, using the “god mode” code makes the game more better. Invincibility only exists in a video game world anyway.

#3. Taxes. This is not recommended, but chances are you are cheating and don’t even know it with the complexity of the Internal Revenue Code. Under reporting income or over reporting expenses or deductions is common and often unintentional.

These are just 3 of the things that cheating on likely will not lead to a long, miserable life, well #3 might, just ask Al Capone.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and advises you to cheat on your diet, not on your spouse or taxes!

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

Opinion

Vote for a new Flag.

11/12/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

The Clarion Ledger has had several articles and polls regarding the potential change of the current Mississippi State flag.

Vote Here.

I’ve previously blogged on the current State flag and my opinion that same should be changed.

Now here’s your chance to vote on the one you like or submit your own. The prior poll had readers opting for a flag change 55% for – 45% opposed. The majority of poll takers wanted a change.(Granted it was about 1,500 responders.) The disagreement came on what the change should be.

Pick your favorite. Other options are available at the link.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi, does not consider himself to be a “whiny, liberal” and still supports changing the flag in Mississippi.

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

divorce, Opinion

Adultery Train; All Aboard. Next Stop, TROUBLE.

11/09/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

An affair plays a significant role in a large number of divorces. It is a train wreck to a relationship.

big_bad_locomotive_by_beezqp-d4mfi8t-1024x727 — Beezqp- “Big Bad Locomotive”

A sure-fire way to wreak havoc in a marriage is to have an affair. Mississippi law defines adultery, for now*, as sexual intercourse with a person of the opposite sex, not your spouse. However, due to the secretive nature of affairs you do not have to have an admission to prove adultery.

The ground can be proven through circumstantial evidence.

Upon a satisfactory showing of

1) inclination or infatuation, which can consist of cards, notes, emails, love letters, texts and phone records showing many calls; and

2) opportunity, which is the spouse and that other person alone together, be it in a car, house, motel, hotel, park or back alley, a Court can find that fault grounds exist.

Due to this, even the whole “it’s only an emotional affair” and the “we didn’t have sex” may not be enough to stop the Adultery train from running over you.

So, why do people have affairs? They can be exciting, fun and pleasurable, at least for a little while. What leads to this? Sometimes the person is unhappy, dissatisfied, over-stressed, unloved, under-appreciated, or at least believe that they are.

The problem is the affair does not fix the problem. It only serves to make things worse. Because along with an affair comes new baggage. Guilt, secrecy, and the emotions of a third person are now commingled in your personal life. An affair not only hurts your spouse, but also you, your children and the other party. It has emotional consequences, financial consequences, custody consequences and legal consequences.

An affair is a Train wreck in the making.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Professor at MC Law and a Divorce Attorney encouraging you to avoid train wrecks!

General Legal, Opinion

Happy “Love Your Lawyer Day!”

11/06/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Yes, it’s a “real” day.

https://bol.bna.com/what-are-you-doing-to-love-your-lawyer/

Love Your Lawyer Day is the one day a year that Lawyers can legally and safely be shown gratitude. The day, which has existed for years, but just this year was recognized by the ABA, is a day to celebrate the good things lawyers do.

To help celebrate the day, persons are to abstain from lawyer jokes and if any are uttered a $20.00 donation should be made to a reputable charity of the offender’s choice.

I was going to blog about the MS Supreme Court, months later, acknowledging the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell. I’ll do that next week.

So, thank you, Lawyers. I truly believe most are good and are trying to help. To those Lawyers who are not and do not, it’s not too late to turn.

#LoveYourLawyerDay #BowTieLawyerMS

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and it is hard for others to show the love in Family Law.

Child Custody, divorce, Marriage, Opinion

You CAN Pick Your Judge! Rankin Chancery & Madison Chancery

10/30/2015 BowTieLawyer 2 Comments

Tuesday, November 3, 2015, is election day.

There are a myriad of candidate seats, but this post concerns the local Family Law Judge races.

Madison, Leake, Holmes and Yazoo Counties.

Two candidates are vying for this seat.

#1 James C. Walker

The front-runner for this seat is James Walker. Walker has the backing of the majority of Family Law and Chancery practitioners in the district. Walker has also worked the beat for this seat. Walker has been at almost every festival, civic event, meet and greet and ribbon cutting in all four counties. If you do not know about this candidate, who he is and what he stands for at this point, it is not for his lack of effort. Walker is the current Family Master for the District; hearing Emergency Petitions,Temporary Hearings and the types of matters the current Chancellors hear. Walker is the former staff attorney for Judge Cynthia Brewer, former staff attorney for DHS and has his own private Chancery practice law firm.

Pearlene Jones

Attorney, Pearlene Jones is the other candidate that has qualified to run. She is a resident of Lexington, in Holmes County. She formerly served as the County Prosecutor for Holmes County, a part-time, elected position.

Attorney Jones has been at events local to Holmes County, but I am unaware of any significant campaigning in the other counties.

James Walker will hands-down be elected to this post.

Rankin County

Rankin Counties race will be closer. There are 4 really good candidates for one spot.

#1 Haydn Roberts

I think Roberts is the front-runner due to having previously served as the Staff Attorney in Rankin County for Judges Grant and Fairly for the past eight years. He has been involved “in over 10,000 cases. Roberts is also serving as the Family Master. The Family Master is a part-time Judge hearing Emergency Petitions, Temporary Hearings and DHS matters.

Prentiss M. Grant

Prentiss Grant “has lived and built his law practice in Rankin County for the past twenty-six years. Prentiss’ law practice is concentrated in family law, and eighty percent of his cases are tried in Rankin Chancery Court.”

Rusty Williard

Rusty Williard has “spent 30 years trying Chancery cases and 15 years [in] Rankin County.” Williard is a self-proclaimed “ruthless defender of the rights of children in chancery court and with juvenile defense matters, he is currently a certified Guardian Ad Litem as well as a Youth Court advocate.

James (Jim) M. Nix

Jim Nix, who I affectionately referred to as the ghost, has come on strong. He is running a “grass roots” campaign and not accepting any campaign contributions. “He has over 35 years experience in Chancery Law, is not a part of the Rankin County Power Group.” I called him the ghost because at qualifying time he was a relative “unknown” candidate. Since that time i have educated myself and I like Jim Nix.

For that matter, I like all 4 candidates. Rankin County would be well served by any of the candidates, but only one will win. I predict the necessity of a run-off. I think it will be between Roberts and Grant, but I think it will be a close race.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and encourages all citizens to vote on Tuesday, November 3, 2015.

*Thompson Law Firm has contributed to the James Walker campaign and was on the Host Committee for a Meet and Greet for the Candidate.

divorce, General Legal, Opinion

How to Contact Your Attorney.

10/28/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

With technology today we expect instant access. However, it is not always practical.

Emails, texts, Instant Messenger, FaceBook Messenger, office phone, cell phone, letter, fax, carrier pigeon or smoke signals are the myriad of ways you have to contact an attorney, but all are not equal and all are not best.

Office phone, during business hours is the best way. It is usually staffed, usually answered and usually responded to if a message is left. If a reasonable period of time has elapsed call again.
Office email. Likely will get a canned response to call the office number and the heads up to the receptionist/call screener to be expecting the call.
Cell phone. You’ve called the office, you’ve emailed and need to get a warm body. If you have a cell call it. Leave a message and a return number and a good time to call back. Most attorneys guard their cell number like Fort Knox. Mine is on my business card.
Other Methods. The last option is the other ways to contact. These means are not secure. FB messenger does not ensure confidentiality.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney and is awaiting your call. (601) 850-8000