Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Family Law attorney and if you are thinking of sending your child to the fictional Hogwarts, you’ll have to shell out about $43,301.00 per year!

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, Child Support, Divorce, General Legal, humor, Irreconcilable differences, Opinion

3 things NOT to say the First time you call a Lawyer.

05/06/2016 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Calling a lawyer for the first time feels worse than going to the dentist or seeing a letter in your mailbox from the IRS.

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In addition to being nervous, you are typically calling because you are having legal problems and need help.

3 things NOT to say on that first call:

TLF: Thompson Law Firm, this is Sara speaking. How may I help you?

PC: This is John. Y’all have to do free (or pro bono) cases, right?!

2. TLF: Thompson Law Firm, this is Sara speaking. How may I help you?

PC: This is John. How much is a No Fault divorce?

TLF: Well, John, that depends upon whether all of the issues are agreed upon with regard to…

PC: Attorney “So-and-So” said he’d do it for $500.00 dollars!

3. TLF: Thompson Law Firm, this is Sara speaking. How may I help you?

PC: This is John. I need a bulldog! I want a Junk Yard Dog that will get down and dirty, do whatever it takes and be willing to go lower than Trump or Hillary!

TLF: Well, sir, all we do at TLF is family law, but there is a right way of handling matters…

BONUS: TLF: Thompson Law Firm, this is Sara speaking. How may I help you?

PC: This is John and I need a divorce…hold on just a second…(said into speaker) I need a #5, super biggie sized, extra ketchup and pickles, and a diet coke…(back to TLF)…now, where was I?

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Divorce Attorney and knows it’s hard to make that first phone call, but NOT doing the above and being prepared will make it easier.

Divorce, humor, Marriage

Burn the Couch!

05/04/2016 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

Sometimes cleaning up the scene of the crime helps the healing process.

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I previously wrote about knowing too much of the dirty details may make forgiveness impossible. Knowing the who, what, where, and when and other dirt can mess with your mind and trigger PTSD-like symptoms.

However, sometimes you cannot forget and you may have a daily reminder in the living room. You are left with 3 options:

You can choose to forgive.
You can choose NOT to forgive.
You can BURN the Couch.

Forgiveness takes time, choosing not to forgive takes a commitment, burning the couch takes a lighter.*

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Divorce Attorney and reminds you that if you are going to burn the couch, do so outside, in a safe manner and in full compliance of all applicable laws.*

Divorce

Mississippi Judge Suspended 30 Days.

05/02/2016 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

Chancellor David Shoemake of the 13th Chancery District, including; Covington, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Simpson and Smith counties, has been suspended 30 days from the bench, fined $2,500, assessed $5,882.67 in costs and shall be publicly reprimanded in open Court by the Presiding Judge of the Simpson County Circuit Court on the first day of the next term of that Court.

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Judge Shoemake was embroiled in conduct that lead to Chancellor Joe Dale Walker pleading guilty to witness tampering and being sentenced to 5 months in prison. Walker was accused of essentially self-dealing by helping a relative get a bid to build a home for a party that was before his Court, and increasing the bid and disbursing other funds. Shoemake signed 5 Orders regarding the monies, after same was transferred by Walker to him so Walker could avoid the appearance of impropriety, before it was transferred back to Walker by Shoemake.

A prior blog, citing a Judicial Performance investigation, included that Shoemake intentionally lied about signing the Orders. JPC recommended that Shoemake be permanently removed from the bench. However, the Mississippi Supreme Court said not so fast.

The Mississippi Supreme Court reviewed the pleadings, records and transcripts of depositions and found that JPC did not demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that Shoemake willfully mislead Judicial Performance (JPC) in his testimony regarding the Orders. Ultimately, Shoemake admitted to signing the Orders, but his testimony was unclear initially when asked if he signed all the Orders and exactly how things transpired. Upon having his recollection refreshed, having the benefit of reviewing the pleadings and the Orders, he did admit to signing the Orders in question. Due to the clarigfications in Shoemake’s testimony the MS Sup. Ct. disagreed with the JPC recommendation of removal and determined to suspend Judge for 30 days for lack of diligent oversight.

You can read the Opinion for yourself here. CO111052

Judicial Performance is asking the Supreme Court to reconsider.

The allegations regarding Jude Shoemake are limited to his on-the-bench conduct regarding oversight of the ward and convservatorship and whether same was a violation of the Cannons of Judicial Ethics. Shoemake did not benefit himself from the handling of this matter and is not accused of self-dealing nor criminal conduct.

General Legal, Opinion

Jeffrey Jackson; Professor, Mentor and MC Law Icon

04/27/2016 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Professor Jeffrey Jackson has passed away.

jeffrey-jackson

Professor Jackson, famed and feared for his instruction on Civil Procedure and Ethics at Mississippi College School of Law, author of multiple treatises, law review articles, books and an encyclopedia on Mississippi law, died on Tuesday April 26, 2016.

Professor Jackson was the quintessential law school professor. The Socratic method employed, he used his unequivocal understanding and knowledge of the law to challenge would-be lawyers who may well have been trying to “fake it until you make it.” His goal, to dispel those faking it.

While fear may have been instilled in his first year classes it was for the enviable goal to prepare the legal minds matriculating from MC Law School. Professor Jackson was listed in the National Jurist’s 23 Law Professors to Take before you Die.

I expect many memories and tributes about Professor Jackson to be shared. This posting can not do justice to what he has done for MC, the law students, the Mississippi legal community and for me.

Personally, Professor Jackson played a significant role in my legal career. I had him as a Professor, but it was after lawschool when our relationship changed. Prof Jackson helped me to become and continue to this day as an Adjunct Professor of Law at MC. MC offered the requisite Adjunct Orientation, but it was Prof. Jackson that helped me set the structure for my class, how to prepare an exam, and how to make sure that it was fair. He cautioned me to not smile the first two weeks of school at the students (for fear of being thought of as too easy) and that if I ever met their parents or significant other to make sure they knew that so-and-so was my best student, ever.

Professor Jackson was instrumental in me becoming an author. I have taken over the book writing responsibilities for retired Professor Shelton Hand, based on Prof. Jackson’s recommendations to the Publisher.

Interestingly, just this past Friday night MC Law celebrated the 40th anniversary of the law school. Professor Jackson was honored for his many years of dedicated service. He was great. He gave an impassioned acceptance speech and shared his irascible wit. MC formally announced the Professor Jeffrey Jackson Scholarship Fund, with monies earmarked for deserving students with financial need.

Friday night was also the first time that my wife and Prof. Jackson met. We visited for several minutes and as we were parting he told her that I was his “best student, ever, bar none.”

Professor Jeffrey Jackson Scholarships Fund

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law litigation attorney in Mississippi and is grateful for having known and been under the tutelage of Prof. Jeffrey Jackson and is a better lawyer for it. You may honor Prof. Jackson’s memory by making a contribution at the above link.

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

LIAR: It’s still a Lie even if YOU believe it.

04/25/2016 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

“A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” Winston Churchill

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Everybody lies. The ones to watch out for, however, are the ones that believe their own lies. It’s not ALWAYS someone else’s fault. It’s not ALWAYS you being the victim. The Judge was not bribed, the fix was not in, and it was not a vast conspiracy between the lawyers, the Court and the FBI.

Lying is the act of knowingly and intentionally making a false statement. Lies are often told out of fear. Usually lies are defensive and are told to avoid the consequences of the truth. They are often white lies that spare another’s feelings, reflect a stereotypical societal attitude, or to appear as a civilized human. Pathological lying is considered a mental illness as the lies take over rational judgment and stray into the fantasy world. Pathological lying is described as habitually lying. It is when an individual consistently lies, even if there is nothing to gain. The lies can even be obvious and often pointless, but are told nonetheless.

There are many consequences of being a pathological liar. Due to lack of trust, a lot of pathological liars’ relationships fail. As the lies and disease continues, lying can become so severe as to cause legal problems including; criminal consequences, divorce and issues in a custody case.

Treatment through therapy may help. The problem with treatments is the patient often won’t admit that they are lying. A “normal” person knows when he or she has lied, but the pathological liar may not be able to differentiate between the truth and a lie. Pathological liars believe their lies and may manufacture false memories to support the lies that have been told. Pathological lying may also be a symptom for other personality disorders. A combination of medication and psychotherapy may help a compulsive liar to stop lying routinely.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law litigation attorney in Mississippi and advises you not to lie!

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, humor

Cockroaches, Your Ex & What they Deserve.

04/15/2016 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

What do you get for your Ex that has everything?

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What they deserve.

The Bronx Zoo has a special offer for you. For just $10.00 you can name a roach after your Ex and receive a Certificate to prove it. For the low, low cost of $25.00 it includes an edible, delectable, chocolate treat!

Offer ends soon.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and encourages you to support your local Zoo. TLF did by adopting a Madgascar Hissing Cockroach in honor of all of your Exes!

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

Crime, General Legal

Mississippi Gun Laws; Churches, Open Carry & You.

04/11/2016 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Mississippi House Bill 786 is poised to become law any second. This is commonly referred to as the “Mississippi Church Protection Act.”

It basically extends Castle Law Doctrine immunities to you while at church, if you otherwise meet the requirements. Prerequisites include that your Church is such per state law, that your Church establish a security program, that members of said security program otherwise meet the licensure requirements of 45-9-101 and said members take an instructional course. Finally, the members must be in the act of “resisting any unlawful attempt to kill a member(s) or attendee(s) of such church or place of worship, or to commit any felony upon any such member or attendee in the church or place of worship or in the immediate premises thereof.”

This Bill is being noted for what else it claims to do. Buried on page 18 of 30 in the bill is a one sentence addendum to the current concealed carry statute, 45-9-101 et al.

“(24) No license shall be required under this section for a loaded or unloaded pistol or revolver carried upon the person in a sheath, belt holster or shoulder holster or carried in a purse, handbag, satchel, other similar bag or briefcase or fully enclosed case.”

I’ve seen stories, blogs and FaceBook posts touting this as a seismic shift in Mississippi Gun law. However, readers of this blog will know that this has been the law since at least July 2013. At this time, the definition of Concealed for purposes of the law came into being.

“97-37-1. (1) Except as otherwise provided in Section 45-9-101, any person who carries, concealed * * * on or about one’s person, any pistol, revolver… must have a concealed carry license.”

“(4) For the purposes of this section, “concealed” means hidden or obscured from common observation and shall not include… a loaded or unloaded pistol carried upon the person in a sheath, belt holster or shoulder holster that is wholly or partially visible, or carried upon the person in a scabbard or case for carrying the weapon that is wholly or partially visible.”

Are you safer in church? Well, that depends on who you go to Church with. Is there any other meaningful change in the law? No, just further clarifying what the law is and making the criminal code and concealed carry laws consistent.

Read about Open Carry, Purse Packin’, Gun Myths and Gun Law 101.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and supports your Second Amendement right to responsible gun onwership.

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