Divorce, Marriage

How to Fix a Marriage?

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I am a divorce attorney.

By nonicknamephoto/ freedigitalphotos.net

I may can help save your marriage.  I know it sounds inconsistent, but my job is to know the law regarding divorce in my state, advise you with regards to your best interests, protect your interests as I am able and to comply with your requests as much as possible within the realms of legal, moral and ethical authority.

Fixing a Marriage does not come in a manual.  There are no quick fixes, nor a consistent 3-step process, but there are some things in common that relationships that can be salvaged exhibit.

1) Both parties Desire or are open to Reconciliation.  If one party ain’t having it, it ain’t happening.

2) Both parties Try.  One party giving all the effort and the other being the limp-fish won’t get you back together.

3) Both parties accept the Risk.  Falling in love, falling on your face, falling out of love.  Risk is inherent in all relationships.

4) It takes time.  This is not a fast process.  The “end” was usually a long time coming, a build up of disappointment, or lies, misconduct or growing apart.  It took time to fail. It takes time to heal.

Saving a marriage is possible, but hard.  It takes the “want to,” the “effort,” the “risk” and “time.”  You still may fail, but you then know you did everything you could.

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Divorce

One Question You Need to Ask Your Attorney!

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Attorneys are asked many a number of hypothetical or convoluted questions.

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We are asked basic questions regarding the law, Complex questions regarding strategy and even common sense questions regarding life choices. Of course, attorneys are asked about fees.

But what question is not asked that should be?

“Are you doing things that hurt my case?”

Attorneys are not supposed to, but unnecessarily filing Contempt, having the other party served, igniting or not responding to the other when they should can make things worse. Attorneys are in a position where they can help or they can do damage beyond repair.

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Divorce

Who’s #1?

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There has been a lot of debate over who is #1…

There are polls, blogs, fan sites, trolls, media and other hype, but #1 in a Family Law situation has to be the children.

If you ever find yourself not knowing what to do, do what is best for the children.  Should you let Jr. go on a trip with dad when it’s not his time?

What is best for Jr.?  

Is dad safe?  

Is the trip meaningful?

 Is it best for Jr.?  If you can answer these questions then you know what to do.

So, I have to give in every time? No, but you should be reasonable and if it means you don’t get to “act” like the other parent does, maybe that is a very good thing for Jr. to see!

In a Family Law situation make your children your #1 priority!

Matthew Thompson is a Child Custody lawyer in Mississippi and if you like what I did here, read more at BowTieLawyer.ms

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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Divorce, Marriage, Opinion

Bad “Divorce” Tattoos?

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What says “My Marriage is Forever” better than a tattoo?  Well, maybe saying it.

Below are some potentially “bad” tattoo ideas…

Think this guy likes Brenda? Does Brenda like him?

Hmm…things aren’t exactly lining up.

That heart looks easy to break.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and warns you that tattoos may be longer than your marriage, act accordingly.

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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Crime, Divorce, General Legal

Update: Mississippi Judge Pleads GUILTY

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As an update from a prior blog, former Mississippi Chancery Judge Joe Dale Walker, has pleaded guilty to Federal charges.

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Walker, formerly of the 13th Chancery Court district which includes; Covington, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Simpson and Smith counties, was on suspension by the Mississippi Supreme Court for his on-the-bench conduct. He pleaded guilty this week to federal charges that included that he instructed a federal grand jury witness to destroy documents and then lied to FBI agents about it.

According to the FBI, Walker directed an attorney (the witness) he had appointed for a Conservatorship to solicit bids for the construction of a home for the ward. Of the bids obtained, one was from the Judge’s nephew.  The Judge reviewed the bids in his office and instructed his nephew to increase his bid. Walker then transferred the case to the other Judge in the district for the limited purpose of accepting and approving the bid because of his nephew’s involvement. After the contract was awarded to Walker’s nephew, the case was transferred back to Walker by the second Judge.

Walker, knowing that a Grand Jury subpoena was outstanding for information concerning the bidding process, spoke with the witness about instructing his nephew to increase his bid and the original bid and any existing copies.

When interviewed by the FBI, Walker denied  talking with the witness about his nephew’s  bids and denied telling the witness that the original low bid needed to be “somewhere else.”

U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette III will sentence Walker Jan. 8. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/oct/7/ex-chancery-judge-joe-dale-walker-pleads-guilty/#ixzz3Ff16e0Ll

The Judge’s suspension, resignation, and guilty plea were a result of the joint efforts of the Mississippi Judicial Performance Committee and the FBI- Public Corruption Unit.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and warns you to NOT lie to the FBI!

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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Divorce

S.E.Oh No!! SEO, PageRank and Google Search

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I am routinely solicited, harassed and otherwise annoyed by SEO peeps.  This despite my usual m.o. of googling them and pointing out that they personally fail at what they are promising me! This group has done this same solicitation prior and I responded similarly…

The Unwelcomed Solicitation:

From: Ilissa [mailto:ilissadamg@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2014 11:50 AM
To: Matthew@BowTieLawyer.ms
Subject: Still Not Ranking
Hello Matthew,

 

Hope all is well since we last spoke. I noticed your website is still not on the first page of Google for “Family Law Attorney Jackson“. We can get you there! I would like to see if you qualify for our 60 day or 90 day guarantee. We will give you a written guarantee to get you to the first page, or you will not pay again until you are.

 

PLEASE ONLY CALL ME IF YOU ARE SERIOUSLY INTERESTED IN DOMINATING THE FIRST PAGE!!!
Thanks,
Ilissa Jones
Internet Marketing Consultant
Digital Age Marketing Group
www.damg.com
Phone: 954.***-****
Cell: 954.***-****
Fax: 954.***-****
ijones@damg.com
This message is a commercial advertisement from Digital Age Marketing Group 1001 W. Cypress Creek Rd., Ste 405, Fort Lauderdale, FL  33060. If you no longer wish to receive such communications in the future, please reply to the email with “REMOVE” in the subject line.

The Response: 

Dear Illsa,

All is well and I hope you’re enjoying sunny Florida. I noticed neither you nor your firm continue to be on the first page of Google for “Internet Marketing Consultant Fort Lauderdale” or “SEO Consultant Fort Lauderdale”.

I am satisfied with my search rankings. The fact is the persons searching “Family Law Attorney Jackson” could well be searching for;

Additionally, persons that are commonly searching “Family Law Attorney Jackson” are routinely SEO persons who are not interested in hiring my firm. I thank you for your offer, however.

Have a nice day!

Matthew Thompson

 I bet you a dollar and a box a donuts I get another one of these in a few weeks. Stay tuned!

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and does just fine on internet searches.

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, Modifications, Opinion

5 Family Law FaceBook Don’ts

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FaceBook is mainly used for comparing yourself to your high school friends and stalking persons you just met. Perhaps it can also be useful for bragging on yourself, your child’s latest, cutest thing and driving up “hits” on your blog. However, it is NOT to air your DIVORCE DRAMA!

FaceBook (FB) based evidence has been linked to over 1/3 of divorces filed since 2011 and is increasing. The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers states that 81 % of its members have used or been faced with evidence plucked from Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites in divorce cases over the last five years.

What are some of the things NOT to post on FaceBook?

  • Don’t put that the other party was just a sperm/egg donor
  • Don’t put that the other party is CRAZY, SATAN or PSYCHO!
  • Don’t post pictures of yourself licking someone’s face at The Electric Cowboy.
  • Don’t put pictures of yourself holding an alcoholic drink with 16 empties on the table.
  • Don’t “check-in” at the Club, at 2:00 a.m., during your custody time with the children.

I have seen FB postings used in Court as circumstantial proof of fault. (Mushy messages to the old flame and hate-filled diatribes against that “dead beat.”) And, FB info has been used as proof with regards to moral fitness in custody battles. Parties in litigation have posted vulgar things about the other party and parties have put pictures of themselves behaving inappropriately on FB.

So you are thinking, “But my FB is set to private. Only my friends can see it and I blocked little Miss So and So.” Well the block may prevent them from gaining direct access, but guess what, you have a mutual friend that is forwarding the postings to your ex and/or that mutual friend is letting them log in under their name.  Nothing is private.

Want to know what else to NOT put on FB? 5 more Don’ts.

Share your FB Family Law horror story…maybe I’ll blog about it.  Oh, and LIKE me on FaceBook.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and recommends you not post your business on FaceBook.

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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Crime, General Legal

Mississippi State & Ole Miss College Game Day Tickets; Getting Scalped

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The Mississippi State Bulldogs are ranked #3 in the Country.  The University of Mississippi is as well.  The tickets for their upcoming games are the hottest seat around!

Sell outs are a given, but you can still get tickets.  However, if you are selling your tickets to make a quick buck or $1,000.00 be aware of the law!

MCA § 97-23-97. Scalping of admission tickets at college events held on state property: 
It shall be unlawful for any admission ticket to any athletic contest of any college or university of the State of Mississippi or for any admission ticket to any entertainment event held on state property to be sold for a price in excess of the price printed on the face of the ticket.

    It shall be unlawful to sell any such admission tickets at any place or in any manner except at such places and in such manner as designated by the proper authorities issuing such tickets.

    Nothing in this section shall prohibit a private individual from selling tickets bought for personal use at a price not to exceed the price on the face of the ticket.

    Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished as for a misdemeanor.

HISTORY: SOURCES: Laws, 1990, ch. 342, § 1, eff from and after July 1, 1990.

So, just selling your tickets at “market value” may well get you charged with a crime, a misdemeanor.  Go, enjoy the game!

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and recommends you not run afoul of the law.

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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Divorce, Child Custody & Support, Alimony, Contempt, Modification, Adoption, Appeals, Corporate Counsel, Professional Licensure Issues, and Civil Litigation.