Tag Archives: divorce

Child Custody, Divorce, General Legal, Opinion

LET it GO! Disney on Divorce.

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You’ve heard of Disney on Ice, well, this is Disney on Divorce…

Let it go, let it go!
Can’t hold it back any more.
Let it go, let it go!
Turn away and slam the door.
I don’t care what they’re going to say…


Idina Menzel – (Disney’s Frozen) Let It Go

Let it Go is quite possibly the best advice Walt Disney has on Divorce.

Divorce is hard. It’s emotional. It’s never-ending with respect to still having to co-exist, co-parent and cooperate with your ex, at least with regards to children.  There are hard feelings, feelings of regret, anger and resentment. Let it Go.

He’s a jerk.  Let it Go.

She’s mean. Let it Go.

You were wronged in ways you can never forget. Let it Go.

Don’t let that anger, resentment, sabotage, and ill-will consume you. Let it Go.

Matthew Thompson is a Child Custody and Family Law Attorney in the Hospitality State (MS) and encourages you to Let it Go.

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, Food Related, Opinion

Being Divorced Means…

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Being Divorced, for the Stereotypical Male, Means…

  • You have to do your own laundry; sheets, towels, clothes, underwear. Washing, drying, folding, putting away…
  • You have to pay your bills, like actually writing checks, stamping envelopes, mailing mail…
  • You have to cook, including; shopping for foodstuffs, ingredients, etc…
  • You have to do dishes; washing dirty dishes, pots and pans…

Think about that, before you think about divorce!

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce Attorney in Mississippi, and while he enjoys cooking all that other stuff is work!

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

We’ll See What the Judge has to say About That…

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“We’ll just let the Judge decide…”

The Judge.  The (near) Final Ruler on all legal disputes that cannot be resolved otherwise.  There is likely not a more misunderstood and much maligned position. Judges are expected to know-it-all and get it right every time, all the while without acting like a know-it-all. Judges have multiple roles in hearings and trials. Judges have these tasks, among others;

  • Determines whether the correct legal procedures were followed.
  • Determines to some extent the procedures for conducting the Court Room.
  • Determines the witness’ credibility- whether they are truthful or not.
  • Determines the admissibility of evidence and the weight it should be given.
  • Whether an attorney’s stated objection to something being introduced or considered is legally proper.
  • Whether there is a reason to overrule said objection.
  • How a witness is treated by the opposing attorney.
  • How the attorneys treat one another.
  • Maintaining Order among the chaos that the stress, anxiety and emotion that Court brings out of people.

Judges have a large responsibility and the buck stops with them (…mostly, though Appellate relief may be possible).  Judges are also human (mostly, I think) and have to adjudge your case based on snap shots presented.  Your attorney and your side put a smiley face on your case and a frowny face on the other and the other side does the opposite.  The Judge, after a relatively short amount of time, will then make a decision that could very well impact you for the next 20 years or the rest of your life.

Judges try to get it right and are bound to base their rulings on the law as it currently reads applied to the admitted facts and evidence presented.  Their decision cannot be based on things not “of record,” meaning facts or evidence not introduced, nor can the Judge do what they or you think the law should be, but rather must apply the law as it is.

Matthew Thompson is a Domestic Relations Attorney in Mississippi and like the old saying goes,”A Good Lawyer knows the law, a Great Lawyer knows the Judge!”

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

Don’t Kill the Golden Goose!

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That dirty, no good, weasley, little, you-know-what deserves to be run out-of-town on a rail and have it shouted from the roof tops that he’s sorry and no one should do business with him! Right??

Goose that Laid the Golden Egg Hand pulled silkscreen ca. 1950

WRONG!

Your initial reaction of disdain and disgust are understandable.  But, bad mouthing the bread-winner in a divorce situation is akin to cutting off your own nose to spite your face.  A New York divorcee recently learned the hard way, costing herself six figures in the process.  She attacked her husband publicly for his reprehensible conduct and cost him significant business and dramatically decreased the value of his law firm.

It was needlessly self-destructive.  That bread-winning spouse maintaining the ability to bring home the bacon will allow you to get more cheddar!

So, bad-mouth him to your lawyer, to your counselor and  your mamma, but don’t run him down the road to his co-workers, don’t email all of her clients that she’s a home-wrecker.

Will it be easy? No.  Is it the right thing?  Maybe.                                                        Is it the Smart Play? Absolutely.

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce and Domestic Relations Attorney in Mississippi and if your goal is to have more bread in your pocket do NOT kill the Golden Goose.  

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, Food Related

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter & Divorce: What you Need to Know

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Per Capita Use of Margarine and the Declining Rate of Divorce in Maine

A website that has emphasized Spurious Correlations has made the connection between Per Capita Consumption of Margarine in the United States and Divorces in the State of Maine.  As one has declined so has the other.

While scientist cannot directly link a cause and effect, perhaps using less margarine may make a stronger marriage…

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce and Domestic Relations Attorney in the Magnolia State.  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 

Child Custody, Divorce, Opinion

Happy Mother’s Day!

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Mother’s Day is Sunday.

The 4 Thompson Mothers

Make sure that the mother of your children is recognized.  Mothers are the most influential force on a child.  Dads are important, no doubt, but a hug from mom makes everything better.

Too often, in separated families, the dad takes the position that “well, she’s not MY mother” and  leaves it to the kids to take care of.  Don’t.  Help your child get an appropriate Mother’s Day gift, every time.

Send flowers, give a card – handmade by junior is a winner every time, a gift certificate for a massage, a dinner, the movies, or bowling, whatever it is, Do it.

Thompson Law Firm wishes all of the Mother’s out there a Happy Mother’s Day!

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce and Domestic Relations Attorney in the Magnolia State.  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

Is Your Lawyer Just Running Up a Fee?

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Lawyers and their fees, the bane of the client’s existence.

Lawyers bill in several ways, most commonly with retainers and hourly billing.  A retainer is unearned money that is placed in the lawyer’s Trust Account.  As the lawyer works on your case, talks to you, meets with you, emails, texts, or thinks about you, the lawyer charges you. As your charged the money is pulled from the Trust Account into the lawyer’s Operating Account.  When the retainer gets low the lawyer sends a nice letter, called a “Replenish Retainer” letter.  It says send more money.  The client then calls and asks “how much is this going to cost me?”  The response is ALWAYS the same, “It depends.”

Another way to bill is Value Pricing, or fixed fee pricing.  This is when there is a pre-negotiated or agreed upon price on the front end of the case.  The client and lawyer agree to the fee, the timing and circumstances under which it is due.  Here the client knows how much it is going to cost them.  In my experience most lawyers do not like this method because “high fees” scare clients away and some lawyers are not comfortable quoting fixed fees because they may limit what they can charge.

There are pros and cons to each method.  The hourly billing method is great if the matter settles quickly, but persons in the position needing lawyers are rarely in the settle-easy category.  The fixed fee method allows you to plan, budget and make a fully informed decision.

Whatever method your lawyer uses, make sure you understand it.  Make sure you appreciate the full cost and expense you are facing.

Thompson Law Firm uses the Value Pricing and fixed fee approach to handling your legal matter.

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce and Domestic Relations Attorney in the Magnolia State.  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

When to Have a “LIE” Ready to Go.

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It seems that in Family Law everybody lies…

africa

I have blogged on the Top 5 Lies of Divorce Clients, as well as It’s ok to Lie to your Children (sometimes). But, there are times where you should have a “lie” ready to go.

When are the Times When you NEED a Response Ready to Go?

  • When you are first meeting with the attorney and are not ready to disclose that to the other side.  Have a story ready. If you are a terrible liar also take a short shopping trip or have lunch with someone so you can truthfully say that is what you were doing.
  • When you are investigating/following/checking up on the other side.  Have a story ready for when you get spotted. I use several PIs for various aspects of what I do.  They always have a detailed, believable cover story ready to explain their presence.
  • When you are not ready to “Show your Cards.” The other side wants to create a ceiling for what you want out of the divorce and you are not ready to say what you want.  Have some response ready, however.

Should you lie? No.  Are there times when it is in your own best interest to do so? You better believe it! 

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi.  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