Bathing in Perfume Stinks.

06/30/2014 BowTieLawyer 3 Comments

It’s like a noxious punch to your nose. Too much perfume.

http://rekedar.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/you-stink-2/

This past Sunday I swooned while in church. It was not the holy spirit, at least I don’t think so. It was the elderly lady’s perfume in front of me. For half of a second it was a mildly pleasant aroma, but then it overwhelmed me, burned my nostrils and stung my eyes. I felt dizzy. I could not believe it.

I fanned the fumes with the bulletin. It was plenty cool so my fanning perplexed those nearby, but not downwind. I fanned in a vain attempt to return the fumes back towards the source. However, I am unaware that the culprit ever knew why the mad fanning or even noticed anything askew. I am quite confident that the offender has lost all sense of smell…and quite some time ago.

As I sat there in waves of agony I wondered what to do. Say something? But what would I say and what would that accomplish? Move? I could not. I was trapped. Why do people wear perfume? You cannot smell it on yourself after a minute and if she was wearing it for me, then no thank you! Pray about it? I did. Sadly this prayer was not answered.

Ultimately I stuck it out. I causally fanned my face so that I could have fresh air. I stuck my nose in the bulletin and breathed in the fumes of the ink, which mildly abated the other. I put my nose in the hymnal and enjoyed the scent of “old book” and I put my nose in the “Good Book.”

Perhaps there was a reason for the assault by aroma…

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Family Law attorney in Mississippi and prefers his air fresh.

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

Take Your Kids on Vacation

06/24/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

It doesn’t have to be expensive, exotic or even annually, but take your kids on vacation.

Vacation settings allow you to see yet another side of your child. They say funny things, they interact with new people and travel creates memories that you will all have forever.

This is just as important in a divorce setting. Set some time aside and plan an overnighter, weekend or even a day trip. Get out there.

Matthew Thompson
#bowtielawyerms #vacation2014

Child Custody, General Legal, Modifications

Don’t Wait 2 Years.

06/19/2014 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

All too often I hear from a potential client months or years after an event that they NOW want to use as the basis for a significant change.

The call comes in and goes something like this;

Potential Client: My ex took our child, moved to California and did not tell me. She can’t do that, right? What can I do about it?

Lawyer: What was the custody arrangement and when was the move?

PC: She had physical custody and moved 2 years ago.

Lawyer: What have you done the last 2 years? Have you seen the child?

PC: Oh, I’ve seen her some, around the holidays and the summers, but now I want custody.

Lawyer: Is the mom unfit? Is the child in danger or trouble?

PC: No, but she took her out of state. That’s kidnapping, right?

It’s not kidnapping and the move will likely not serve as the basis for a custody change with nothing more. Also, your failure to act in a timely manner will be used against you. Even though you did not “agree” you’re conduct showed you “acquiesced.” Acquiesce means to “agree” by being silent or by not taking action immediately, objecting to the change.

It’s not just in Custody matters either. Marital fault, financial shenanigans and other improper conduct is lessened with time.

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Child Custody Law attorney and advises Don’t Delay, Call Today!

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

Leave Your Guns at Home…

06/18/2014 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

No. This is not anti-open carry, which Mississippi allows by the way. This is about what not to take to Court.

Courthouses are upping safety measures. As you can imagine, high emotion, high drama and looming consequences are involved in cases daily. Because of this, safeguards have been and are being implemented throughout Courthouses. Metal detectors, handhelds, bag searches are routine. Litigants routinely have to hike back to the car to put up their purses and phones.

Here’s What You Don’t Take to Court:

Any weapon. No guns, knives, clubs, mace, etc… if it’s “evidence” let the lawyer deal with it.
Cell phone. The bane of the Judge’s existence these days, most are prohibited by the Court and a few Courts even disallow the lawyers from having cell phones. Very frustrating.
Purse. Yes, they are apparently just a large assault bags, full of narcotics and recording devices.
Recording Devices. There’s a Court reporter, unless you have specific permission having a recording device may well get you in trouble.
Drinks. This is elementary.
Gum. This is kindergarten.
Your girlfriend. She will just anger the wife and the judge. No good comes from this.

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Family Law attorney and as Johnny Cash sang, “Don’t take your guns to town.”

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

General Legal, Opinion

Vote Early (and vote often…)

06/17/2014 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

There is a run-off on June 24, 2014. Up for election are Senators Cochran (U.S.) and McDaniel (State), both vying for the Republican nod for this fall’s U.S. Senate seat and locally, Ronny Lott vs. David Overby for the Madison County Chancery Clerk position.

This election takes place during the Mississippi Bar Convention, which is an annual Lawyer’s meeting. Mississippi lawyers bone up on recent changes in the law and earn their Continuing Legal Education (CLE) hours and ethics requirements to keep a valid, current law license.

So, if you are going to the bar convention be sure to vote absentee ballot between now and Saturday at noon. You can vote at your local circuit clerk’s office, M-F 8-5 and Saturday 8-12 noon. After that you’re out of luck.

Vote early, and as the saying goes…vote often.

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Family Law attorney and is voting in the forthcoming election.

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

Child Custody, Child Support, divorce, General Legal, Grandparent Visitation, Irreconcilable differences, Modifications, Visitation

But, I Cannot Afford an Attorney…Low to No Cost Help is Out There.

06/16/2014 BowTieLawyer 2 Comments

Can you afford an attorney? More often than not, you cannot afford to go without an attorney!

Oftentimes I hear, “I want the best!

We’re going to take this one all the way!

No, I don’t have any money...”

Having no money is a problem, but more often than not it’s more of not being willing to pay the money you do have. In Family Law, in all but the rarest of incidences you do not have the right to have an attorney appointed to represent you. This is a common misconception. In the Criminal arena you do have the right to an attorney. While Civil issue may be no less important to you the protections afforded to Civil litigants are typically lesser.

So, what do I do? If you really have no money there are 3 great resources for Civil Litigants.

Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project. MVLP handles civil matters, through volunteer attorneys for low income persons in Mississippi. (Primarily Uncontested Divorces, Guardianships and Expungements, etc…)
Phone: 601-960-9577 Fax: 601-944-9678 Email: mvlp@mvlp.org Jackson Office.

Mississippi Center for Legal Services. Legal Services handles civil matters, through in-house and some volunteer attorneys for low income persons in Mississippi in a variety of Civil matters. (Uncontested Divorces, Adoptions, Name Changes, Disability, Consumer, Education Law matters, etc…)
Contact the State-wide Intake Hotline at 1-800-498-1804

Mission First Legal Aid. Missions First uses a combo of in-house and volunteer attorneys, but offers a more limited scope of representation. (Family law matters, Government Benefits, Housing,and Debt, but they do not handle divorce cases.) Approached from a mission, christian-based model of service.
Legal Aid Office, please call 601.608.0056

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Family Law attorney and volunteers with all 3 entities above.

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

Opinion

“Indecent things with Animals…” Cochran vs. McDaniel, Round 13

06/13/2014 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

You can witness, firsthand, political hay being made!

The Clarion Ledger has the video on its website of Cochran’s now infamous reference to animals.

The link above is the video of Senator Cochran’s speech at Forrest General hospital. Senator Cochran’s campaign has new vigor and he is making the rounds, glad-handing the people and being folksy… campaigning, finally.

In an attempt to relate to residents of the Mississippi Pine Belt, Cochran recalled spending holidays in rural parts of the area visiting relatives, picking pecans and doing “all kinds of indecent things with animals.” It got laughs and Cochran, himself, smiled as he tied his memories into why the locals should support him.

Now the McDaniel campaign is claiming this to be a Freudian slip; proof that the septuagenarian Senator is losing it or worse, some horrific admission to harming small woodland and/or farm creatures.

Watch for yourself and make your own conclusions.

Catch up on the Campaign; Picture-gate, Update, Open Letter. For mesmerizing coverage for all things campaign related hop on over to Jackson Jambalaya.

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Family Law attorney and encourages you to stay tuned for the upcoming blog on animal indecency and grounds for divorce in Mississippi. Interesting stuff…

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