Tag Archives: custody

Child Custody, Child Support, Crime, Opinion, Visitation

How NOT to Hire an Attorney.

11/11/2014 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

Desperate times call for desperate measures, but don’t take things too far..

A recent Craigslist add was seeking to raise funds via a non-traditional manner. Organ sales. However, this is not your grandmother’s musical instrument. The ad stated, in part;

I am a healthy active 37yr old, 6′ tall white man of strong european bloodline. I am drug a disease free and have two healthy kidneys and all I have left to sell is one of them. I have been going through custody battles for the last 4 years and am flat tapped out of money and property left to sell. My son is my one true love and his mother wont be happy or stop lying until Im out of the picture and she is being helped by a devious liar of an attorney. I wont give up on my son and am willing to do what it takes to stand up for him. I have to give my attorney some money and this is all I can come up with. I am employed and have a job I love, but I need to lay down thousands of dollars at this point, attornies are not cheap. Please help. Call ****** ***-***-**** ALL EMAILS WILL BE DELETED. Thanks.

I do NOT know if the above is legit or not and I assume it is not. Sacrificing your health and potentially your life is not the way to “win” custody. Also, organ sales are illegal in the U.S. The National Organ Transplant Act (1984 Pub.L. 98–507), approved October 19, 1984 and amended in 1988 and 1990, outlawed the sale of human organs and provided for the establishment of the Task Force on Organ Transplantation; authorized the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants for the planning, establishment, and initial operation of qualified Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs); and established the formation of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network and Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.

Don’t sell your organs to hire or pay for your attorney. There are other solutions if you are completely tapped-out, but this ain’t it. Read about options if you cannot afford an attorney here.

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Family Law attorney and cautions those in legal situations, not to make their circumstances worse.

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, Divorce, Opinion, Visitation

Forgettable Halloween!

10/31/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Halloween is not a “real” holiday. School is not out, banks are not closed, the Post Office still does their thing.

Halloween is also overlooked in Child Custody Visitation Agreements. It is not in the Court’s “standard” visitation schedule. Also, Halloween is a moving target. It’s not always a weekend. Due to this it can result in one parent “having” the holiday more than the other and the other parent’s “rights” dependent solely on the whim of the calendar. Sometimes this is not a problem when mom and dad get along, but sometimes this is used against the other parent. Put Halloween in your papers if you have young children. It’s a fun day and a special time!

Matthew Thompson is a Child Custody/Visitation lawyer in Mississippi and warns that if you don;t want to be scared on whether or not you have rights to Halloween visitation, it is best to put it in your papers.

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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.

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Divorce

Who’s #1?

10/14/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

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.

Child Custody, Divorce, General Legal, Marriage, Modifications, Opinion

Leaked Photos!

09/03/2014 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

The headlines have been abuzz of leaked celebrity photos in compromising positions, including Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton.

However, celebrities aren’t the only targets of this type of conduct. All too often these are threatened to be made public or sent to your mother by your former significant other when pitted against one another in a heated divorce or custody case. You mean your soul-mate may turn on you? In a second!

In addition to being embarrassing the pictures can influence a Court’s determination on contributions to the stability of the marriage and custody. I am not saying you lose your kids because you took naughty photos, but depending on what they depict and whether they include illegal activity they may well impact your case and may also impact negotiations. You may settle for less than you should to prevent them from being used.

So, how do I keep these from being used against me? Easy, don’t allow them to exist in the first place.

What if they already do? Tread carefully…

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce Lawyer in Mississippi and cautions you to NOT put yourself in compromising positions.

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

“But, I Pay Child Support!?!”

08/15/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Child Support. The two most despised words in all of child custody related matters. Ok, maybe not the most despised, but it leads to more litigation than any other single issue.
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I have previously written on Child Support in Mississippi. Today’s post is about what Child Support is really for and what it is not.

I have lost count of the times that a parent paying child support demanded to know how the monies are being spent and wanting to know just what the other parent is spending “their” money on. I have also heard when the receiving parent has requested additional monies the response is,”I paid my child support, you figure it out.”

Child Support is intended to go towards the child’s needs. Food, shelter, clothing and necessities. However, the statutory sums rarely equate to an amount sufficient for all of that.

Mississippi has the lowest amounts, percentage wise, in the Country. 14% for one child equals approximately $150.00 -$585.00 per month. By the time any rent or a mortgage is paid, it’s gone.

Child support may be used to pay the rent, groceries, gas, clothing, shoes, school expenses, medical, dental, utilities, activities, etc. It’s not limited to solely purchases just for the child and it’s not improper for the parent to spend it as they see fit, so long as it’s a benefit for the child.

The paying parent may well gripe. And, it may be a lot of money to you, but it’s usually not enough to pay for a child’s true expenses.

Matthew Thompson is Child Support lawyer in Mississippi.

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

Child Custody, Divorce, General Legal, Grandparent Visitation, Visitation

Go to Your Kid’s Programs.

04/01/2014 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

When can I go to my Child’s school?

Being divorced impacts all aspects of life. A lot of times you can keep certain aspects quiet or private, but when children are involved issues spill over into school.

Under normal circumstances, regardless of the custody arrangement, you can go to your child’s school programs. It doesn’t have to be “your” time.

About the only times this is not true is if the Court has imposed specific restrictions preventing this or if the event is not open to all parents or you’re otherwise not welcome at the school.

So, if you can go, Go!

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney and does his best to put Family First.

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, 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