Tag Archives: divorce

Child Custody, Divorce, Opinion, Visitation

Going to Bat for Your…Ex!? – Things Great Parents Do Whether they Like it or Not.

Leave a comment

Ex-spouses.  The scourge of happy families.

Despising your ex is a “fundamental right” that most divorcees have earned. Usually, about half of the time, the ex deserves it. However, there are some involved who do not.  The children.

Promoting and encouraging a good relationship between your ex and the children is usually a very good thing.  You should do it.  How, you ask?

Go to Bat for the Other Parent.

If the child indicates they don’t want to go to visitation or that they would rather go to Jenny’s birthday, don’t acquiesce.  Tell them how important it is to go see the other parent. Tell them how much that time means to the other parent. Tell them how much fun they will have.  Even if you don’t believe it.

Think about if the roles were reversed.  Jenny’s birthday is not that important to your child. It’s just another school friend’s birthday. Time with the Other Parent is Priceless.

Here are some other tips on NOT being a Terrible Parent:

Signs of Terrible Parenting.

How to be a Terrible Person.

And, here’s the Best Thing You Can do for Your Child!

Matthew Thompson is a Child Custody  Lawyer in Jackson, Mississippi and goes to bat for his clients.

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

img_6390

 

 

Divorce, Marriage, Opinion

When to Have an Affair.

Leave a comment

Affairs can be exciting, secretive and scandalous…

jesadaphorn/ freedigitalphotos,net

This excitement is short-lived.  The secret too, is soon out. Finally the scandal hurts more than just the perpetrators, but also their families.  Affairs, actually, are usually disasters, depressing and not worth the effort. During an affair the participants are focused on themselves. This tunnel vision leads to neglect of those other persons in their life, which actually makes those relationships worse.

There is an ebb and flow that is true in all of our interactions with other human beings. The time you are spending with that other person is less time that you are spending with your family, focusing on your work, and even yourself.

Additionally, the fall out from the affair is “self-inflicted” injury and injures all parties involved.

So, when is the right time to have an affair?  Never.  There is no right time to have an affair.  

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Divorce Lawyer and reminds you of what Nancy Reagan has said since the 1980s, “Just Say no.”

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, Crime, Divorce

How to Leave a Bad Situation.

Leave a comment

It’s all to common that I encounter someone in an abusive relationship.  The getting out is the hard part.

divorce

It’s usually best to prepare to leave. If possible;

  • Make sure the Children are safe.
  • See a Lawyer.
  • Have some cash.
  • Get valuables, papers and irreplaceables.
  • Get out.

Sometimes it’s not possible to prepare.

  • Get Children
  • Get Out
  • Call the Police
  • IN this Order.

Domestic Violence is real, knows no class boundaries and happens.

Don’t accept it.

Matthew Thompson is a Chancery Court Attorney in Mississippi and advises victims of Domestic Violence to seek protection and press charges.

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.

black bow

Divorce, General Legal

Getting STUNG in Court!

Leave a comment

Seldom in Court does everything go in one party’s favor, but there are times where the party-in-the-wrong get’s STUNG by the Court.

wasp-3

How do you know if you got Stung in Court?  Oh, you know.

  • You may have been dressed down by the Judge.
  • He may have stated that your conduct was petty or silly.
  • A finding that your lawsuit was frivolous.
  • Perhaps your claim was dismissed in its entirety.
  • When the other side is preparing the Order and it was not an “Agreed” judgment, that too can be a sign of a win or loss.
  • If you were held in contempt.

But there is also another sign of getting Stung. Are you paying your opponent’s attorneys fees?

If you’re paying the other party’s Attorneys Fees, you got Stung!

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce Attorney in Mississippi and warns clients to not get Stung!

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.

black bow

Child Custody, Divorce, Opinion, Visitation

Forgettable Halloween!

Leave a comment

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

IMG_5209

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.

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.

black bow

 

 

Divorce, General Legal, Marriage

Easy to Get Married; Hard to Get Divorced.

1 Comment

“Easy Come, Easy Go” does NOT apply to Family Law.

http://www.triggerandfreewheel.com/comic/easy-come-easy-go

It’s easy to get Married. Quick, too.  Just show:

  1. Both parties must apply together
  2. Both parties must present a valid I.D. (Driver’s License, Birth Certificate, Military I.D., DD214, Baptismal Certificate, Life Insurance Record, School Record, or any other official document evidencing age. The Clerk shall retain a copy on file.
  3. $23.00 CASH fee (or similar fee depending on County)
  4. If either party has been divorced within the last six (6) months, a copy of the divorce decree is required

Additional Information

  1. If either applicant is under TWENTY-ONE (21) years of age, parental consent is required
  2. The female applicant must be at least fifteen (15) years of age to apply
  3. The male applicant must be at least seventeen (17) years of age to apply
  4. The license may be used only in the State of Mississippi

Harrison County Circuit Clerk.

It can be very difficult to get a Divorce.

You and your spouse must;

  • Agree to a Divorce
  • Agree to all of the Terms of the Divorce Agreement (including custody, support, visitation, property division and financial terms)

The basic process is;

  • File a Joint Complaint for Divorce (this begins a 60 day waiting period)
  • Prepare and exchange financial Statements
  • Prepare and sign the Child Custody and Property Settlement Agreement
  • Prepare and sign the Final Judgment of Divorce
  • Present the paperwork to the Court for approval (after 60 days of the initial filing)
  • Possibly attend Parenting Class

This ONLY works if you and your spouse can AGREE To EVERYTHING.  If you cannot then you must pursue a Fault based divorce.

Fault requires:

  • File a fault-based Complaint for Divorce (determine if you need Temporary Relief)
  • Have a Summons issued (Rule 4, 81 or both)
  • Have your spouse served with the documents
  • Prepare and attend a Temp. Hearing
  • Propound Discovery
  • Issue subpoenas
  • Respond to Discovery
  • Take Depositions
  • Have a Contempt hearing
  • Prepare and exchange financial Statements
  • Possibly attend Parenting Class
  • Set Trial
  • Prepare for trial (6-12 months from now)
  • Trial gets continued for some reason
  • Attend Trial
  • Await Ruling
  • Be aggrieved
  • Both parties file Appeals
  • 1 1/2 years later get ruling on appeal
  • Matter is Remanded
  • Repeat the above

“… it is the greatest of all mistakes to begin life with the expectation that it is going to be easy, or with the wish to have it so.”
― Lucy Larcom

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.

black bow

Divorce

Hallmark’s New Lineup!

Leave a comment

When a card just won’t do, call your attorney!

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.

black bow

Divorce, Marriage

How to Fix a Marriage?

2 Comments

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.

IMG_3045.JPG