Don’t Drink & Text

03/24/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

We know not to Drink and Drive and that Drinking on the job is a terminable offense, but it’s also important not to Drink & Text.

There is an old saying that “a drunk man says what a sober man thinks.” While this may not be always true, there is some truth to it. Alcohol lessens our inhibitions.

Recently, I interviewed a person who was being advised of their rights in a family law matter. It turns out that they sent multiple, repeated texts messages over a several hour period while under the influence. Some were funny, some incoherent, some to the intended recipients and a few that were not. It was the ones that were not to the intended recipients that caused the problem.

A text message sent is a message that cannot be recalled.

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce Litigation Attorney in Mississippi and warns you to NOT Drink & Text.

Follow the blog: #BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm You may also contact Matthew with your family law case or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

Divorce

Divorce Costs ?!?

03/21/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

“The average divorce today costs $15,000.00“- Avvo.

Child Custody, Divorce, General Legal, Marriage, Visitation

Little People, Big Divorce?

03/12/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Amy Roloff Matt Roloff — http://thestir.cafemom.com/entertainment/169562/little_people_big_world_stars

The stars of Little People, Big World, which regales America with the Roloff’s somewhat hectic life, dealing with dwarfism, and running a farm in Oregon have announced a trial separation. The two apparently intend to continue to work together, on the farm and on the TLC program which made them familiar to millions.

In Mississippi, a trial separation just amounts to not living with each other and does not require any Court process, as there is No Legal Separation. In Oregon, Legal Separation is recognized, and while allowing for the marriage to remain intact it provides for the parties to live apart, can divide property, divide debt, determine support, if any and provide for parenting plans.

Despite their many on-air disputes, here’s hoping they can resolve this amicably for the little and not-so little people in their lives, their 3 children.

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce Litigation Attorney in Mississippi and can handle your matter whether it’s big or little.

Follow the blog: #BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm You may also contact Matthew with your family law case or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

General Legal

Courtroom Etiquette; It’s NOT what you see on TV.

03/10/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Ben Matlock and Perry Mason were always able to berate the real killer on the witness stand until he confessed or it just so happened that the real killer attended the Trial, sitting in the audience, just to watch, only to see himself implicated and arrested before he could leave.

However, real Court is not like TV Court. Lawyers for the most part do not have surprise witnesses that no one knows of and the real killer does not attend and watch from the gallery. Though Court is usually open to the public, rarely does anyone other than a family member attend.

Lawyers are usually held to a reasonable standard of Courtroom Etiquette and witnesses and parties are even more-so.

Courtroom Etiquette includes;

Dressing appropriately. (conservative or church attire is acceptable, shorts, sleeveless tops, & hats are not)
Acting appropriately. (No guffawing, exclaiming, gum chewing, loud talking in the audience)
Waiting for the Question to be asked before Answering. (All is being typed by the Court reporter)
Answering “Yes” or “No,” and then explaining if necessary.
Not Shouting or Yelling.
Not Cursing.
Not Lying.
Not Faking Emotion.

Court is emotional. You can have and show emotion, but the Court is going to judge the level of emotion shown based on the issues before it and will take into account stage fright. The Judge also knows, more often than not, when you are faking it.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Litigation Attorney in Mississippi; know when to hold, when to fold them, know when to walk away and when to run…

Follow the blog: #BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm You may also contact Matthew with your family law case or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

Divorce, General Legal

Courtroom Jitters

03/07/2014 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

Testifying in Court is the most nerve-racking experience for the parties in a case.

The number one phobia among human beings is public speaking, not death, heights, or spiders. Evidence of this can be seen daily. Add to it the pressure of being involved in serious litigation and Courtroom Jitters are to be expected.

I have seen witnesses forget the answer to the most basic of questions due to stage fright. I had a witness forget her address, the one where she had lived for years. I’ve seen a deposition transcript where the husband going through a divorce lost his cool when asked his name. To him the question was insulting because they had been married for years. The anxiety of being in that situation got the better of him.

A colleague told me she had a witness freeze while being questioned about adultery and then lie about the affair even though he knew the other side had “it” on video! After the lie the attorney requested a short recess. The client said he panicked and just said,”NO!” ( while Nancy Reagan would have been proud, it was perjury). After the recess the opposing attorney asked to play the video to impeach the witness. The witness admitted the affair, but it was too late. The court ordered the video be played.

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce Litigation Attorney in Mississippi. Stage fright happens and is real. The best advice is avoid Court. The second best advice is prepare, prepare, prepare.

Follow the blog: #BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm You may also contact Matthew with your family law case or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

Crime, Divorce, General Legal

When a Whisper is Not a Whisper; The Lost Art of Whispering

03/06/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

At the movies, the library and the classroom you get in trouble for talking. Whispering is requisite.

In Court, whispering, too, is a critical skill. On numerous occasions I have heard many a too loud whisper.

Yesterday I blogged about getting caught taking a bow tie selfie and learning of me getting busted via a too loud whisper.

On another occasion I was taking a deposition and the issue of whether my client had a gun in her car was brought up. She denied having a gun. The soon-to-be ex “whispered” to his attorney that he knew where it was in her car because he put it there!

Learn the ART of Whispering.

Matthew Thompson is a Child Custody Attorney in Mississippi and Whispers quietly.

Follow the blog: #BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm You may also contact Matthew with your family law case or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

Bow Tie

Your Every Move is Watched

03/05/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

I wear bow ties to Court. Pictures of me in a suit include me in a bow tie. I tie them myself and enjoy wearing them, the look and the attention.

I market the bow tie as well. My blog is blog.bowtielawyer.ms. A search of Bow Tie Lawyer reveals a lot of my musings.

Recently, I was awaiting court and was mentioned in a Tweet regarding bow tie selfies. Those are pictures of yourself in a bow tie. I took one. One of the other persons awaiting court whispered, “he just took a picture of his bow tie.” It was not a quiet whisper, though I believe it was intended to be.

So, what’s the point? Just remember that you are being watched. You are watched in Court, in your dealings out in public, in your daily routines and even those times when you think you are not.

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney and reminds you to Watch Out!

#bowtielawyerms
http://wwww.bowtielawyer.ms
(601) 850-8000

Child Custody, Divorce, General Legal, Opinion

Through the Eyes of Child; What Does Your Child SEE?

03/03/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

One of the “rules” of Family Law is when you don’t know what the right legal answer is, do what is RIGHT and you will probably be okay.

Doing what is right is not always easy, nor fun. On several occasions I have had client’s faced with seemingly tough decisions or circumstances. One client suspected the spouse of abusing illegal drugs. They did not have direct proof, but knew of drug abuse in the past and had knowledge of very suspicious behavior lately. Their idea was to create a circumstance where they would have the spouse under surveillance when the spouse was out buying drugs. The problem was the suspected spouse would also have the child during that time. I told them that you cannot put your child in that situation…

In other instances, parties have had the other spouse served while they had the children. The problem with this is that it is scary and stressful for the child. Sometimes, it seems, having them served in this manner just cannot be avoided, but if it can, it should be. (See my prior blog on service of process.

Think about your child,what they are experiencing and what they “SEE” before you go and do something to your soon-to-be ex-spouse.

Matthew Thompson is a Child Custody Attorney in Mississippi reminding you to SEE things through the eyes of your child.

Follow the blog: #BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm You may also contact Matthew with your family law case or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms