Category Archives: Opinion

Divorce, General Legal, Opinion

The #1 Reason Why Friends Vanish During Your Divorce.

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Sure, you may be losing a spouse, but you still have your friends, right?

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Divorces are hard, messy, time-consuming, energy and money draining. They impact not only your relationship with your spouse and children, but also your relationships with your friends.

Friends, all of a sudden, become witnesses.  That time that Jimmy drank too much at the BBQ and screamed and cursed at you.  Well, Paul witnessed the whole thing, thought Jimmy was out of line and even said as much. It made him wonder what Jimmy was like behind closed doors. But, given some time and the threat of a witness subpoena and Paul does not really “remember” exactly who said what.

When Maggie finds out she may be deposed about what you told her, she all of a sudden is an expert on hearsay and probably won’t be allowed to testify anyway…

The #1 reason on why friends vanish…THEY DO NOT WANT TO GET INVOLVED.

They do not want your problems to become their problems.  They do not want to “pick sides.”  They may be willing to be there for moral support, but when faced with Court, and cross examination – most would prefer not to.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney and reminds you that friends don’t let friends go into Court unprepared.

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.

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

Leaked Photos!

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The headlines have been abuzz of leaked celebrity photos in compromising positions, including Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton.

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However, celebrities aren’t the only targets of this type of conduct.  All too often these are threatened to be made public or sent to your mother by your former significant other when pitted against one another in a heated divorce or custody case.  You mean your soul-mate may turn on you?  In a second!

In addition to being embarrassing the pictures can influence a Court’s determination on contributions to the stability of the marriage and custody.  I am not saying you lose your kids because you took naughty photos, but depending on what they depict and whether they include illegal activity they may well impact your case and may also impact negotiations. You may settle for less than you should to prevent them from being used.

So, how do I keep these from being used against me? Easy, don’t allow them to exist in the first place.

What if they already do?  Tread carefully…

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce Lawyer in Mississippi and cautions you to NOT put yourself in compromising positions.

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.

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General Legal, Opinion

The Dirtiest Secret of Lawyer Advertising!

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“One call.  That’s all.”

Gone are the days when Lawyers do not advertise.  While some lawyers still think it’s a faux pas, most accept that lawyer’s advertising is just like any other industry and to some extent is a public service…

Regardless of whether or not you approve of lawyer advertising it is here to stay. However, there is one trap to be careful to avoid;

  • Bought and Paid for Search Rankings.

I get numerous Search Engine Optimization (SEO) proposals every week.  These groups claim they can have me at the top of Google searches, for a fee, in any legal category I choose. The SEO people Google specific terms and if you are not in the top 5, or on the first page, then the solicitations come. Sometimes you may even be on the first page organically and they still try to solicit you.

So what does this mean for you, the person looking for a lawyer? Be careful. Just because a lawyer shows up on your search does not mean he/she is the one for you or that they even handle the type of case you have.  Read more on How to Hire an Attorney.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi cautioning you to do your research before you hire an attorney.

Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer 

You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at 

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Bow Tie, Opinion

Happy National Bow Tie Day!!

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August 28th is a memorable day each year for the recognition of the Bow Tie!

Notable Bow Tie Wearers

  • Abraham Lincoln

  • Franklin Roosevelt

  • Theodore Roosevelt

  • Winston Churchill

  • John Paul Stevens

  • Albert Einstein

  • Sigmund Freud

  • Humphrey Bogart

  • Frank Sinatra

  • Charlie Chaplin

  • Orville Redenbacher

  • Bill Nye

  • James Bond

  • Barney Fife

  • Donald Duck

  • The Cat in the Hat

  • Matthew Thompson

Matthew Thompson is a Bow Tie tying Lawyer in Mississippi and encourages you to learn to tie a bow tie!

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.

Opinion, Uncategorized

Pet Peeve of the Day: I’ve Met You 5 Times…

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I usually remember people…

Recently I “met” a man who I have previously met 4 times.

The first time was at a (1) community lunch that we both attended. We sat beside each other talked about our professions and several things we had in common. It was nice.  The second time was (2) two weeks later at a similar event, again sitting at the same table for lunch.  There was a vague memory of the first lunch.  The third time was (3) again at lunch, but this time by happenstance. It was as if we had never met.  The fourth time was at (4) a Wednesday night dinner at church.  We sat immediately next to each other and I intentionally had a “memorable” conversation about Jack Black singing gospel songs.  Who could forget that?

The fifth time (5) was just the other day…

I’m not sure what this means. I’m not sure if I should be offended, or not care, or treat it as proof that “you never get a second chance to make a first impression” is just not true.  In any event, I recommend that you try to remember people and remember meeting them.

The one final take away is that on all of these occasions I was NOT wearing a bow tie.  Perhaps I am not myself sans bow tie.

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce Litigation Lawyer in Mississippi, the Hospitality State and is recommitting to the bow tie.

Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer

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

General Legal, Opinion

Gun Myths Debunked

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People make a lot of assumptions about guns.  Most of them are wrong…

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Mississippi has fairly straight forward gun laws.

Can I purchase a gun from a dealer? 

Yes, if you are 18 or older for a long gun (ie: shotgun, rifle, muzzle loader)

or

Yes, if you are 21 or older for a hand gun (ie: pistol, revolver)

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have not been convicted of domestic violence, a felony and have not been committed for alcohol or drugs, and are not under the influence at the time of purchase.

What about Possessing a Firearm?

Possession as opposed to purchasing has lesser restrictions.  There is not minimum age for possession of a long gun. It’s not uncommon for 9-year-olds and up to have a shotgun for dove or duck hunting.  It’s legal, and assuming proper supervision, safe.  The law is a little more restrictive on a youngster possessing a handgun, but you can possess one if you are 18 or older, and if younger than 18 you may possess one for hunting purposes, at a shooting range or on private property with permission of the landowner.

Do I need a Permit or License?

No.

Do I have to Register my Firearm?

No.

What about Concealed Carry?

MS has recently adopted new laws concerning concealed carry vs. open carry and a license is required for Concealed Carry.

Where can I have this gun?

Your home, your business and your car and a lot of other places too, unless there is a Federal restriction against it, or if your local entity has the proper signage, unless of course you have the instructor certified endorsement (though the endorsement does not override Federal restrictions). Confused yet?

I would suggest you consult with your local law enforcement office if you have specific questions, though reading the law for yourself may prove more beneficial.  Also, the laws are ever-changing.  Confer with an attorney if you have any questions concerning the use, purchase or possession of a firearm in Mississippi before you have an issue.

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.

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General Legal, Opinion

Should I Get a Gun?

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Doing what I do I get asked a lot of questions.  Family Law leads to a lot of weird situations, but one question that I get more than you’d think is
“Should I get a gun?”

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Should I Get a Gun has a lot of moving parts as far as a question goes…

  • Do you fear for your physical safety?  
  • Is that reasonable under the circumstances?

Fearing for physical safety requires more than the purchasing of a firearm.  Upon a good faith belief of bodily harm you should be considering getting to a safe place, a Restraining Order, Law Enforcement Involvement and further Court action, in addition to a firearm.

  • Do you know how to use a gun?  
  • Are you willing to educate yourself?

Training course are offered all the time now.  Handgun, shotgun, self-defense, and home defense courses are all the rage. Take one or two or all of them.  Even experienced gun users would benefit.  Proper training, muscle memory, repetitive exercises will all aid in your confidence as well handling of a serious situation.

  • Will you practice?  
  • You have to practice!

Practice, practice, practice.  There are several ranges throughout the state.  You have to shoot and need to shoot to be comfortable with your firearm.

  • Safety. Safety. Safety.

Safety is the most critical aspect of owning and handling a firearm. Treating them all as loaded. Only aiming at intended targets. Keeping them safely and securely locked away from children and those that should not have access to a firearm is critical.

So, Should you get a Gun? Yes, if you are willing to educate, train, be safe and use it responsibly.

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Family Law attorney and encourages safe and responsible gun ownership.

Follow the blog:#BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm  You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

 

Divorce, General Legal, Opinion

How to Be a Reasonable Client.

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On the heels of “Signs of an Unreasonable Client” comes the counter, so you know how to be a reasonable client.

  1. Listen to your Attorney. You hired them, now listen.
  2. Ask if you Don’t Understand. We can sometimes fall into the trap of speaking in legalese and assume you get it you aren’t indicating otherwise.
  3. Pay Your Bill.  That is how attorneys make money and all attorneys are not as rich as they want you to think.
  4. If you Have an Issue with us, Let us Know.  Don’t tell someone else about your concerns and not allow the attorney a chance to address it.
  5. Don’t Ignore your Attorney.  One of the worst things you can do is go off the grid and not communicate.
  6. Don’t Text Incessantly. It’s great for “running 10 minutes late” or “the date is Aug. 4,” otherwise call or email.
  7. Don’t Email when a Call is Better. Somethings you just have to talk about.
  8. Don’t Abuse the Cell Phone.  Do NOT abuse the cell phone.

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce Lawyer in Mississippi and encourages all clients to be reasonable.

Follow the blog:#BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm  You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms