Tag Archives: marriage

Sentenced to 50 years. Married. Bake me a Cake.

02/18/2014 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

In what is the most bizarre story so far this year, (sorry Charlie Sheen), a California Judge who oversaw a murder trial sentenced the convicted to 53 years in prison then performed a wedding!

Danne Desbrow was first sentenced for murder, then married, all by the same judge! (Screenshot/UT San Diego) http://laist.com/2013/09/30/prisoner_sentenced_then_married_by.php

After the trial resulted in a conviction for murder, the matter was reset for sentencing. The convicted was sentenced to 50 years for murder plus 3 years for intimidating/threatening a witness. After the sentence was handed down the Judge cleared the Courtroom, except for Court staff the convicted and his fiancée. The Judge then performed the wedding ceremony wherein the convict married his girlfriend, who he had rekindled his relationship with while he was in jail awaiting his murder trial. To top it off, the Judge baked the cake that he parties enjoyed after the ceremony. Reports indicate it was a frosted, vanilla Bundt cake. The judge sliced the couple each a piece prior to the ceremony, as reportedly, she was uncomfortable with a knife being around the convicted.

The victim’s family is understandably upset.

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi based Divorce Lawyer and predicts that this match will not last.

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

“Nice people do…

Quote 12/05/2013 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

“Nice people don’t necessarily fall in love with nice people.”
― Jonathan Franzen, Freedom

Memorize the above. Believe it. #bowtielawyerms

Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce, Grandparent Visitation, Visitation

Put Your Children First.

07/30/2013 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

Divorcing spouses make it about themselves. How he “threw it all away” or how she “abandoned the marriage.” But, when children are in the equation they need to be First.

I know of too many instances where the children are treated as pawns. One parent uses the other parent’s time or access to the children to get more of what they want or are just difficult for the sake of being difficult. A parent refusing to allow the other parent to see the child for strategic reasons is just wrong.

Okay your husband strayed, does that mean he does not deserve to see the children? Too often the parent that has the child is tempted to play “keep away.” If your wife is a floozy that does not mean the children do not need their mother?

In all instances where there are NOT genuine safety concerns that parent should have access and see the children as much as practical. Period. What’s the best thing you can do for your child?

Put your children first. Make sure the other parent has quality time and access to the children. If dad was not an every other weekend dad before the divorce, who is served by him becoming one after the divorce?

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, General Legal, Marriage, Opinion

Purple Panty Pull-downs

04/17/2013 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Gotcha! Purple Panty Pull-downs, (a.k.a. Hunch Punch, Whoop Juice) is a college party drink of too much alcohol, kool-aid, sprite, and ice. It can lead to poor judgment, hangovers, injuries, arrests and other sordid outcomes. However it tastes good! When mixed right it is cold, sweet and easily drinkable. It “feels” safe. You cannot fully appreciate the danger.

Similarly, threats to your marriage can seem sweet. Contacting an old friend, meeting a business colleague for drinks or meeting someone new at an event and hitting it off. These interactions are new, exciting, fun and “feel” safe. But be careful.

A non-scientific poll conducted on Facebook by colleague and friend, Craig Robertson, revealed common places and common themes in affairs. Affairs typically do not happen with strangers. They are persons that we know. Persons from work, from our past, friends of the family and church – yes, Church! It happens. It’s the people you see at the grocery and the coffee shop and your kid’s friend’s parents.

So, should you be a recluse, a shut-in and avoid all other human interaction? No. Just be aware of your surroundings. Act intentionally.

When you see the cooler full of Purple Panty Pull-downs, Watch Out!

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney and in the words of Sir Winston Churchill, “The water was not fit to drink. To make it palatable, we had to add whisky. By diligent effort, I learnt to like it.” But don’t lose your wits about you.

Marriage, Opinion

Churchill Wisdom; On Marriage

03/05/2013 BowTieLawyer 2 Comments

“My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me.”

-Winston Churchill

“You never marry the right person.” (clickable)

-Timothy Keller

Matthew is a Family Law attorney and more often than not agrees with Churchill and Keller.

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@wmtlawfirm.com.

Divorce

Things to Release at a Wedding Ceremony.

Image 02/20/2013 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Things to Release at a Wedding Ceremony.

Scale of “Coolness” of potential things released at a Wedding Ceremony

Marriage

Common Law Marriage is NOT so Common.

01/14/2013 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

You live with someone for seven years, holding yourselves out as Mr. and Mrs., makes it legal, right? No. What about 10 years, 20 years? Nope.

In 1956 the Mississippi legislature ended Common Law Marriage in Mississippi, or at least NEW Common Law Marriages within the State. Mississippi Code § 93-1-15 was passed that required a License and solemnization for a valid marriage.

(1) No marriage contracted after April 5, 1956 shall be valid unless the contracting parties shall have obtained a marriage license … and …shall have been performed …solemniz[ation]. Failure in any case to comply with both prerequisites …shall render the purported marriage absolutely void and any children born as a result thereof illegitimate.

(2) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to affect the validity of any marriage, either ceremonial or common law, contracted prior to April 5, 1956.

Now if your Common Law Marriage was valid prior to 1956 in Mississippi and you and the Mrs. are still alive and together, then your marriage is valid. Interestingly, if you have a valid Common Law Marriage from another state Mississippi will also recognize that. 16 states still recognize Common Law Marriage according to Find Law and in the 1980’s Mississippi recognized a Common Law Marriage of a couple from Georgia. They eventually relocated to Mississippi and the wife sought and was granted a divorce. George v. George, 389 So.2d 1389 (Miss. 1980).

Don’t count on a Common Law Marriage for marital purposes, and don’t believe your “spouse” if they tell you you’re married and you have not followed the State licensure requirements.

Matthew is a family law attorney and was married using the post 1956 Mississippi methods.

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

Marriage, Opinion

You Never Marry the Right Person.

12/03/2012 BowTieLawyer 3 Comments

This thought provoking title was taken from an excerpt from The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller and appeared in Relevant Magazine. This title, while appearing startling, is actually pretty profound if you think about it. The gist is that searching for someone who accepts you as you are and fulfills your desires, creates an unrealistic set of expectations that frustrates both you and your partner. This results in someone relying too much on a marriage partner for their own self-fulfillment. It creates impossible expectations.

The article instead encourages one to view marriage as the coming together of two flawed people working to create “stability, love and consolation.” While the search for soul-mates and the one that “completes you” is romantic to think about and makes for entertaining movies, (if you like that sort of thing try, He’s Just Not That Into You) it is unrealistic and overly simplistic. The article concludes, “[s]imply put—today people are asking far too much in the marriage partner.” And I would add, and not asking enough of themselves.

You never marry the right person, but the marriage can be right!