Tag Archives: Mississippi divorce

Divorce, General Legal, Irreconcilable differences

60 Days = Divorce?

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Sixty days and you are divorced is NOT the law in Mississippi.

§ 93-5-2 – Divorce on ground of irreconcilable differences

“(4) Complaints for divorce on the ground of irreconcilable differences must have been on file for sixty (60) days before being heard... the provisions of Section 93-5-17 to the contrary notwithstanding.”

60 days is NOT a deadline. It is a minimum, mandatory waiting period. It provides sufficient time for a cooling-off period and typically sufficient time to do all of the things necessary to complete the paperwork required in an Irreconcilable Differences divorce.

You are NOT automatically divorced on day 60 or 61. It means that AFTER 60 days the completed paperwork may be presented to the Chancellor for their review and approval.

Additionally, all of the paperwork does NOT have to be completed before you file and the Court will keep the file open for at least 12 months with no additional activity. This means at any point after the initial filing and 60 days, a divorce may be presented and finalized.

Matthew Thompson is a “No Fault” divorce attorney in Mississippi.

Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce, General Legal, Marriage, Modifications, Property Division, Visitation

The Updated BOOK is In. 2018-2019; Mississippi Divorce, Alimony and Child Custody with Forms.

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Get ’em while they’re hot…

Mississippi Divorce, Alimony and Child Custody with Forms, 2018-2019, is hitting the shelves and internet near you.

This edition, in addition to bedrock family law principles, includes statutory and case law updates regarding jurisdiction, alimony, equitable division, business valuation, contempt, attorney fees, visitation, custody and de facto marriage concerns. It also includes updated, revised and new forms.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law practitioner in Mississippi and has been the author of Mississippi Divorce, Alimony and Child Custody with Forms, since taking the reigns from his now retired Law School professor, the venerable Shelton Hand.

Matthew@BowTieLawyer.ms (601)850-8000

Divorce, General Legal

Different Laws in Different States (Get Advised by an Experienced Attorney in Your State)

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All States have Family Law Courts, but not all Family Laws are the same throughout the Country.

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Often I get calls from potential clients from other states.  Either they were originally from here and did not know who else to call,  their case was originally decided here, or they just heard that State “X” has a certain law.  Where you can sue or be sued really regards jurisdiction, blogged previously. Today is about the fact that the law is different from State to State.

There is no uniform code of family law.  All states are required to have a child support formula, but not all states calculate it the same way.  All states have provisions for divorce, but some states prefer “No-fault” divorces while some require you to have fault grounds, if an agreement cannot be reached.  States have different burdens of proof, residency requirements and waiting periods.

Just because your cousin’s friends got something in her divorce in Texas does not mean you can get it in Tennessee.

Matthew Thompson is a Domestic Relations Attorney in Mississippi.  Be sure you call an attorney in the appropriate State.

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

Abandoned, Deserted, Left…

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Desertion is one spouse’s willful abandonment of the marriage for at least 1 year without consent, just cause, excuse, or intention to return.

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More commonly called abandonment, being left or just plain dumped, desertion is more than just a fight he or she leaving for the weekend.  It has to be for 1 year.  That is 365 days!  Also, the party that did not leave, cannot be materially at fault for the other person leaving.  This means you cannot kick him out, then sue for divorce, with no other intervening events.

Desertion can also occur even with no one leaving the house.  The “deserted” spouse must demonstrate that he/she did not consent to the “leaving of the relationship” and that a willingness to renew the relationship was refused by the deserting partner. However, if the deserting spouse makes a good faith offer to return and the other spouse then refuses, the refusing party could become the deserter.

Finally, there is a concept known as “constructive desertion.”  This occurs when the conduct of one spouse is so bad that it forces the other party to leave.  The above requirements still apply as far as the timing and that it could be prevented by a good faith offer of reconciliation.

Desertion is a viable fault ground for divorce, but it must be proven to the satisfaction of the Court and can devolve into a “he said, she said.”  Also, just because one spouse leaves it does not mean the other spouse gets all the property.  If the Court awards a divorce then a property split will also be done.

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce Attorney in Hinds County, Mississippi and if you’ve been left high and dry it may be time to get down and dirty.

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