(601)850-8000 http://www.BowTieLawyer.ms
Happy Father’s Day!
(601)850-8000 http://www.BowTieLawyer.ms
60 Days = Divorce?
Sixty days and you are divorced is NOT the law in Mississippi.
§ 93-5-2 – Divorce on ground of irreconcilable differences
“(4) Complaints for divorce on the ground of irreconcilable differences must have been on file for sixty (60) days before being heard... the provisions of Section 93-5-17 to the contrary notwithstanding.”
60 days is NOT a deadline. It is a minimum, mandatory waiting period. It provides sufficient time for a cooling-off period and typically sufficient time to do all of the things necessary to complete the paperwork required in an Irreconcilable Differences divorce.
You are NOT automatically divorced on day 60 or 61. It means that AFTER 60 days the completed paperwork may be presented to the Chancellor for their review and approval.
Additionally, all of the paperwork does NOT have to be completed before you file and the Court will keep the file open for at least 12 months with no additional activity. This means at any point after the initial filing and 60 days, a divorce may be presented and finalized.
Matthew Thompson is a “No Fault” divorce attorney in Mississippi.
MS Bar Exam: 3 strikes and back to law school
The Mississippi Supreme Court just enacted a new rule, effective 2020, for hopeful attorneys-to-be.
Matthew Thompson was interviewed by WLBT while attending Scout Camp regarding the new MS Bar Exam Rule change. It’s hard to take a good picture of a video…
There is now a rule regarding the number of times you may take the bar exam unsuccessfully before remedial education is mandatory. Upon 3 unsuccessful attempts, a test-taker must attend 12 additional hours of law school before sitting for the bar exam again.
Previously there was no set limit. Two Supreme Court Justices disagreed with the rule change, but not because it was too tough. One justice was in favor of a 3-strikes your’re out and another supported 5-strikes and you’re out.
There have been mixed responses to this rule change and the above link features area attorney’s reactions, including your truly.
Matthew Thompson is a Family Law attorney in Mississippi, passed the bar exam on his first attempt and if all goes to plan will not have to take another bar exam – – ever…
How to set yourself apart…
Lawyer advertising can still have a stigma attached to it. It’s a throw back to the “good ‘ol days,” I guess.
However, we all advertise, or market, in some way. The bow tie is a marketing tool. Well, today my friend Graham Carner gave me his “card.” It’s a poker chip. It says his practice areas, website and phone number. It’s also the first time I’ve seen a chip/card.
Kudos to Graham. Perhaps the bow tie bottle openers are not as far-fetched as I’ve been told!
Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney in Mississippi and is typically the only lawyer under 70 in a bow tie.
Best Parenting Advice; Be Consistent and Be Positive
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
School records, grades and cooperation…
If you’re a parent you are entitled to your child’s school record, grades and information. 
This is true regardless of the type of custody or visitation you have. This is true regardless of whether the other parent gives it to you or not. You are entitled to it by law in Mississippi. MCA 93-5-26
So, how do you get it?
- Ask the other parent.
- Ask the teacher.
- Ask the guidance counselor.
- Ask the principal.
- Ask the guardian ad litem.
- Formally request it in writing.
- Have your lawyer request it.
- and if all else fails
- Issue a Subpoena.
Be nice, be professional, but be assertive.
The few exceptions to this are if your parental rights have been terminated and/or the child has been adopted or if there is a Court Order preventing you access.
Matthew Thompson is a Child custody lawyer in Mississippi and encourages you to be involved in your child’s schooling.
Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms (601)850-8000
An Apple a Day…
“An apple a day keeps the Doctor away,” may be getting replaced with an “Apple today keeps the Divorce attorney away!”
Your iPhone is NOT great at keeping secrets. All calls, texts and emails are trackable, if not recoverable. It links to the Cloud and backs up your photographs, even the ones you delete. It knows what apps you have downloaded, it knows when you are sleeping, it knows when you’re awake, it knows when you’ve been good or bad…
So, what can you do? You can upgrade your device. If there is no case pending, no request to preserve evidence, no issued subpoena or a discovery request, you can get rid of it.
What did Tom Brady do? He got rid of it.
What did Hillary Clinton do? She got rid of it.
What did Nevada Barr do? She “took a cold chisel and a hatchet; I tore it apart; I then took all of the pieces that were inside of it and I put them in the metal box; I burned it by pouring gasoline over it, and I shoveled it into a plastic bag and I dumped it in a bayou.”
Matthew Thompson is a Family Law attorney in Mississippi and does NOT advise the spoliation of evidence, obstruction of justice or Russian collusion, but you can upgrade your cell phone or laptop.
(601) 850-8000 - - BowTieLawyer.MS 
