Footballs and Dogs; Almost anything can be negotiated in your divorce…

09/11/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

With High School and College Football in full action it reminded me of some of the lighter, or at least non-traditional, custody battles that I have been involved in.

Season Football Tickets– I was involved in a case where the parties were arguing over who got the season football tickets.

The tickets were secured by one party who had been getting them for years, but were paid for by the other party, so both felt they had a legitimate claim. Additionally, both genuinely wanted the tickets. It was not posturing by the wife to get a better deal or more support. The solution was joint custody.

Each picked certain games that they would attend each year and on the games that both wanted to attend they agreed to alternate even years and odd years. Another interesting aside was that there were 2 tickets for each game. Who the guest would be was also an issue. Neither wanted the other to be able to take a bf/gf. The compromise was that the other ticket would be used by a family member or a minor friend of the children. (Minor meaning under 21, not just small). The custody of the tickets was one of the last issues to get resolved. It really did matter.

Dogs– In a similar vein, I have handled several cases involving pets. Pets, under Mississippi law are considered personal property (like an item or thing), however the parties are free to treat pets as members of the family should they so elect, and many do.

The parties ultimately agreed on a week-on, week-off custody arrangement for the dog to be with each “parent.” The agreement also addressed the expenses associated with the dog, including food, care and vet bills. Don’t forget those items!

Almost anything can be negotiated.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and reminds you not to forget about those season football tickets and pets in your divorce agreement.

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Bow Tie, Divorce

We’re Moving. TLF is relocating and expanding…

09/02/2015 BowTieLawyer 3 Comments

The bow tie is getting bigger!

Thompson Law Firm, pllc, is moving. Our new office will be located in Ridgeland, Mississippi in the Avignon Office Park. The physical address will be;
Thompson Law Firm, pllc

745 Avignon Drive, Ste. D

Ridgeland, MS 39157

That’s “D” as in divorce.

TLF will be adding additional space, offices, and staff. The new office is conveniently located near the Natchez Trace exit in Ridgeland off of I-55, close to the west end of Spillway Rd., and just one block west of the Old Canton Rd./Lake Harbor intersection. It’s across from Primo’s on Lake Harbor, and just east.

The new space and amenities will allow TLF to better serve and respond to current, former and new clients. TLF has signage on Lake Harbor and in the front of the new building. We will be in the new office full-time in mid-September 2015. Of course the phone numbers and emails will remain the same.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and is excited about the new digs! Stop by and say “hello.”

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

Crime, Divorce

Domestic Violence; The Lethality Index.

09/01/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Unfortunately Domestic Violence happens. The ones that “love” us the most hurt us the most.

Domestic Violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone. http://www.justice.gov/ovw/domestic-violence

Domestic Violence can be deadly. Below is what is commonly referred to as the “Lethality Index.“

The numbers below in parenthesis indicate the factor by which a domestic violence victim’s risk of homicide is increased relative to other domestic violence victims. For example, if the abuser has used or threatened to use weapons, the victim’s risk of domestic violence homicide is 20.2 times that of the average domestic violence victim.

The Top Five Risk Factors

The numbers in parenthesis indicate the factor by which a domestic violence victim’s risk of homicide is increased relative to other domestic violence victims.

Has the abuser ever used, or threatened to use, a gun, knife, or other weapon against victim? (20.2x )
Ever threatened to kill or injure victim? (14.9x) Document complete and accurate quotes of the threats
Ever tried to strangle (choke) the victim? (9.9x)
Is abuser violently or constantly jealous? (9.2x )
Has abuser ever forced victim to have sex? (7.6x )

The US Dept. of Justice has compiled a number of studies into a “lethality assessment list” of 17 risk factors for domestic violence homicide. (The full lethality risk scale can be found at www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/jr000250e.pdf)

Have an exit strategy.

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

Divorce, General Legal, Opinion

Don’ t Pull Tricks

08/31/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Lawyers have a bad reputation. Some deservedly so.

But a good rule of thumb is to not pull tricks.

I was representing a client when they called in a panic around noon during the week. The alarm was going off at the house. I told them to call the police and go check on the house.

The police responded and cleared the home. Upon inspection, my client discovered the back door was kicked in, the phone lines cut and just about everything that could be moved was, including the dishwasher.

The client called me asking if she should report a robbery. So, dear reader, you are wondering why is this client calling me? Well, just a few days prior the client’s spouse was served with a complaint for divorce and a request for temporary relief. I informed my client that she had in fact not been “robbed,” but that her husband had hired a local attorney. She asked me if that attorney had called or filed something. No. I could tell by her spouse’s actions who he had hired.

It was discouraging and disheartening, but alas, apparently not illegal. However, we had a temporary hearing soon thereafter and everything taken that should not have been had to be returned and the damages caused and expenses related to his conduct were reimbursed. It gave no tactical advantage and made the other client and opposing lawyer look like jerks in front of the judge.

Similarly, clients have the option of pulling tricks. Misrepresenting the facts, creating circumstances that make the other party look bad and knowing the other’s dirt may allow for a temporary advantage that could backfire. Also, if you know it’s bad advice, you don’t have to take it.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law attorney and strives to give good advice and not pull dirty tricks.

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

Bow Tie

Happy National Bow Tie Day!

08/28/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

A friend reminded me that today is National Bow Tie Day! It snuck up on us, yet again.

Lego bow tie from Lego Extravaganza 2014.

You can read about the origin of the TLF trademark Bow Tie, “Why the Bow Tie.“ You can peruse a list of notable bow tie wearers, and even educate yourself on the history of bow ties.

Happy National Bow Tie Day!

Matthew Thompson is a bow tie wearing Domestic Relations Attorney in Mississippi and wishes you a very warm and Merry National Bow Tie Day!

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

Crime, General Legal

CraigsList Sales the Safe Way.

08/28/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

You can find some smoking deals online. Furniture, cars, and fishing supplies, among a plethora of other items are available. But along with hot deals comes the potential for shady dealings.

However, Rankin County has a solution. The Rankin County Sheriff’s Office and multiple police departments in the area are creating “Safe Zones” for online “Craigslist” type transactions in the parking lots of at the Sheriff’s Office and police stations.

Rankin County Sheriff, Bryan Bailey, and many of the local police chiefs in Rankin County are encouraging the public to use the agencies’ parking lots and/or lobbies for their online transactions when a face to face meeting and exchange is required.

Many of these locations are under 24-hour video surveillance and have a constant flow of law enforcement personnel at all hours.

“We believe that this will prevent robberies and violent crime, and we hope this will make our citizens feel safer,” said Sheriff Bailey. “Providing these ‘Safe Lots’ are something positive we can do for our community at absolutely no cost.”

The following locations may be used;

Rankin County Sheriff’s Office in Brandon

Brandon Police Department

Pearl Police Department

Flowood Police Department

Florence Police Department

Pelahatchie Police Department

Reservoir Police Department

*Hat tip to Jackson Jambalaya for getting the scoop.

Matthew Thompson is a Domestic Relations Attorney in Mississippi and likes getting a good deal, just like the rest of you!

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General Legal, Opinion

How to Handle Someone that Bothers You; Are You Married to Oscar the Grouch?

08/27/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

I hear complaints, gripes and criticisms everyday.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/161094754/oscar-the-grouch-bow-tie

It comes with the territory in helping people navigate emotional landmines involved in Family Law cases. However, I often ask,

“Did you tell him that comment bothered you?”

“No.”

“Why Not?”

“He should know that it bothered me…”

Perhaps he should know that it bothered you, perhaps he does know, or it’s possible he was oblivious.

ob·liv·i·ous (əˈblivēəs/)
adjective
not aware of or not concerned about what is happening around one.

How do you handle it? You tell him that it bothered you.

“Hey, that comment of equating me to Oscar the Grouch hurt my feelings. I did not appreciate it. Cookie Monster, perhaps, but not Oscar.”

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and knows that sometimes we are grouches when we should be gracious.

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Crime, Divorce, General Legal, Opinion

The Fallout Continues…and there is more to come. Ashley Madison won’t Stop.

08/26/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

One more post on Ashley Madison and then I am taking a break from the subject.

You can read about the Ashley Madison hack here and what it means and doesn’t mean here.

What is still developing are the ramifications from the hack and the disclosure of private information.

It’s been reported that there have been suicides due to person’s private information being leaked. There have been public admissions of using the site and being the “biggest hypocrite ever.” There have been public denials that the person listed did not create the account or use the account, well maybe they did create it, but it was for curiosity’s sake only. There have also been outright denials of accessing the site and that an impostor created the account. This did happen, by the way.

There is actually a law in Mississippi which makes it illegal to impersonate another real person online with the intent to threaten, harm, intimidate or defraud another. The fake accounts may well be actionable if it impersonated a real person.

The other concerning part is that the Impact Team, the hackers responsible for the leak, have indicated they have the content of private messages and pictures shared through the site. There may be more fallout to come.

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce Lawyer in Mississippi and warns you that this story has “legs” and other body parts too!

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