Child Custody, Divorce, General Legal, Visitation

Stay “Connected” to Your Kids.

01/22/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Hello? How are you? I miss you! I love you!

That’s it. If you do nothing else your kids will know that you are thinking about them, that you love them, miss them and desire a relationship. Too often, in divorce/custody settings, it is easy to fall into the trap of “it’s not my time.” This trap allows days and sometimes weeks go by with little to no communication. Sometimes the other parent contributes to this or directly interferes, but you should attempt to do it anyway.

Call, email, text, FaceTime, Skype, send letters, cards, gift cards, and small gifts or trinkets. It does not have to be expensive, an occasion or ” your time.”

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law & Divorce Attorney in the Hospitality State. Be sure and show your child your hospitality!

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, Visitation

A Parent’s #1 Obligation

01/21/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

A parent has a moral and legal duty to promote a healthy, affectionate relationship between the child and the other parent!

family-law-changes

What? You justify your conduct by saying, “I am not bad-mouthing him.” But, just not bad-mouthing him is not enough. You have an affirmative duty to promote a good relationship. (with rare exceptions for the health and safety of the child.)

Encourage, promote and truly desire a good relationship between your child and the other parent. Your child will benefit!

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law & Divorce Attorney and reminds you that a child with two parents that get along and are involved is better than the alternative.

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

Get a Haircut!

01/07/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

You have either said this, been told this or know someone who has, “Get a Haircut!”

So why is a divorce attorney telling you to get a haircut? Perhaps you need one, but even if you don’t, you will feel better. There is something about getting a fresh haircut that recharges you. It makes you look better, younger, rested and more professional, at least that’s what my mom says.

It’s relatively inexpensive depending on where you go and it is something you can do today. Want a fresh start? Get a Haircut!

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law & Divorce Attorney and encourages you to support your local hair stylist or barber.

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, Marriage

Sometimes You Go to Bed Angry!

01/01/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

“Never go to bed angry,” they say. Well sometimes that just leads to being overtired and angrier.

David Castillo Dominici/ freedigitalphotos.net

We’ve all heard the advice to never go to bed angry, but what happens when you don’t get your disagreement resolved? Is watching the sunrise a magic antidote to resolving your issues? I contend that it’s not and that sleep deprivation just contributes to the problem. Sometime rest, a cool head and some time for inner-reflection help.

I am not saying that your grandmother was wrong, but several of those sayings have been debunked – you do not Feed a Cold and Starve a Fever, lightning does strike twice, and you will not drown of cramps if you swim immediately after eating.

While resolving your differences ASAP is usually the best policy, sometimes one size does not fit all.

“Get some sleep!” – Matthew Thompson

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney and recommends a good night sleep and keeping your routine, as much as possible, especially when dealing with conflict.

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

Don’t be a Raisin…

Image 12/30/2013 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

“Don’t be a Raisin in the Trail Mix of Life.” –

Chelsea Fagan – 24 Rules for being a Gentleman in 2014.

Divorce

Merry Christmas!

Image 12/25/2013 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce, General Legal

Read Your Papers!

12/24/2013 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

It may sound rude, but the question is nonetheless valid, “Have you even read your divorce papers?”

The very first step in determining your rights, answering your questions and determining whether you may get in trouble, all start with the same thing; Reading your papers. They define the type of custody, what you owe and the time you get for custody/visitation periods.

Agreements can be very difficult to remember. It is easy to get confused and is easy to forget. Read them. Is it MY Christmas? Read the papers. Do I owe for the car tags? Read the papers. Is it MY weekend or is it suspended due to an intervening holiday? Read the papers.

If you do not know how much support you owe, read the papers. If you wonder if you have a claim for contempt because so-and-so did not have them back by 5:00 pm, you guessed it, read the papers.

“Read your Papers!” – Matthew Thompson

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney and reads lots of papers and will read yours too.

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

Child Custody, Child Support, Crime, Divorce, General Legal, Opinion

How to be a TERRIBLE Person. (11 specific ways you can be mean & hateful.)

12/23/2013 BowTieLawyer 5 Comments

In my profession I get to see a lot of what not to do almost, every day; from videos, texts, and emails to actions and sometimes inaction.

So, I have compiled a list of what terrible people do. If you want to be terrible do these things, in no particular order.

Curse and scream at your spouse, as loud as you can, as often as you can.
Curse and scream at your children.
Make false abuse claims.
Lie about the false abuse claims even when it’s clear they are false.
Bad-mouth your child’s other parent to the child. (Hey, it’s the truth, right!)
Interfere with their time with the child. Just do it. Sure it hurts your child too, that’s what makes it even more terrible.
Abuse your spouse or child. (Any form – all are terrible, some more-so than others.)
Refuse to support your family.
File suit when your ex paid 5 days late, even though they told you. It’s the principal, right?
Threaten to make public private images. (and mean it when you say it, at least in the moment.)
Refuse Christmas visitation. Just because.

There you have it, 11 mean, hate-filled things that you can do to be terrible.

“Oh, and if you don’t want to be terrible don’t do these things.” – Matthew Thompson

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and tries not to do terrible things or give terrible advice.

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