Sneak Preview of the New Firm

Hallway leading into waiting/ rest area with filing room in the background
More seating area in an office
The Main Office of Attorney Justin Jones
Decor and, Law Clerk, Lindsay Bethea's Certified Notary Public Accreditation
Candelabra in the hallway outside of the kitchen area
Waiting/ Rest Area
Attorney Justin Jones hard at work, while his Law Clerk snaps photos.

Foyer

These pictures are just a sneak preview into the new firm location. We now have four spacious offices, a foyer/rest area, a conference room, kitchen area & restroom, and the determination to make your law firm experience comfortable, pleasurable, and one of a kind. As always, we guarantee quality representation and genuine concern. We are on a constant quest for improvement, expertise, and meeting your personal needs at Justin Jones Law.

Divorce: What Are The Basics?

Divorce: What Are The Basic Steps?

Divorce laws will vary by state, but these are the basic steps and procedures one can expect to encounter in Mississippi:

First, you need to research local attorneys that specialize in divorce. Make sure you specifically research divorce attorneys and seek background information. Seeking counsel from an attorney that does not specialize in divorce or family law will prove to be detrimental. Once you have found a qualified Mississippi divorce attorney, you can expect you case to proceed in the following manner, keeping in mind that all cases are different and will never be exactly the same and produce the same outcome as one you have heard about from friends, family or TV.

1. You or your spouse must meet the 6 month residency requirements of the state of Mississippi, meaning you must have lived in Mississippi for at least 6 months.

2. You must have “grounds” (a legally acceptable reason) to end your marriage, in Mississippi there are 12 fault grounds . If you do not have grounds for divorce, then you can file what is called a "Joint Complaint". A Joint Complaint means you and your spouse agree that the two of you should be divorced, and is Mississippi's version of a "no fault" divorce. If the joint complaint route is taken, the court requires a 60 day "reflection period" before the divorce can be finalized.

3. Your attorney will advise you of the best way to proceed, prepare your case, and file the appropriate divorce papers with the court.

4. If your spouse disagrees with anything in the divorce papers, then they will have the opportunity to file papers telling their side,which will be considered “contesting the divorce.” If contested, you may have a series of court appearances to sort out the issues. Also, if a certain period of time passes and your spouse does not sign the papers or file any papers of their own, you may be able to proceed with the divorce as an uncontested divorce anyway. (Your lawyer will be able to advise you on how long you have to wait to see if your spouse answers before you can continue with the divorce).

5. If there is property, assets, a pension, debts, or anything else that you need divided, or if you need financial support from your spouse, then these issues may have to be dealt with during the divorce or else you may lose your chance to deal with these issues. The issues may be worked out during settlement negotiations, and incorporated into the divorce decree or in a series of court hearings during the divorce.

6. If there are any children born of the marriage, then child custody, child support and visitation will have to be determined as well.

Divorce and all of the issues that come along with it can be stressful and emotionally draining . If you or someone you know are dealing with divorce, you should seek the advice from a Mississippi attorney who practices family law, so that the burden and stress can be reduced.

Does Your Child Support Order Need To Be Modified?

Child support is commonly known as a court-ordered amount of
money that a non-custodial parent must pay to the other parent to compensate for a certain amount of a child’s expenses. There is no doubt that children are entitled to be supported by their parents in the same way they would have been had the parents not separated. However, the laws of Mississippi are specific regarding how child support obligations are determined and whether or not an increase or decrease in the amount is warranted. Therefore, a lawyer who specializes
in family law will be most helpful in assisting you in seeking a modification of child support.

It's important to know that parties cannot agree between
themselves to alter an existing child support order. Court orders on child
support can be modified only by subsequent court orders. Modifications to child support orders are generally granted where material, significant and unexpected changes in circumstances have occurred. These changes can be brought before the court in an attempt to increase or decrease the child support obligation. It is commonly argued that a change in circumstances has occurred where the paying parent's income has substantially increased. For example, if a parent receives a higher paying job, a substantial promotion, or an inheritance, he or she could be expected to pay a new and higher child support amount. However, this factor alone may not be enough for the court to increase the child support amount. In addition, changes in a child’s expenses, such as high medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance, might necessitate a modification of child support. Expenses related to childcare, summer camps or private schools might also be a basis for seeking higher support levels, especially if private schools or summer camps were part of the family’s lifestyle before the separation or divorce.

Changes in the parenting plan may necessitate a downward modification in child support. For example, if a child goes to live with the non-custodial parent on a long-term basis, the court may find justification in
terminating or significantly reducing the amount of child support. Also, a downward modification may be available if one parent experiences an involuntary loss of employment or becomes disabled. However, it should be noted that voluntarily quitting a job cannot be used to justify a reduction in child support. Similarly, temporary periods of unemployment for parents who are seasonally employed are generally not considered unexpected, especially if the nature of this employment was taken into consideration when the amount of child support was originally determined.

There are many other circumstances and situations that may
justify modification of a child support order. Therefore, it is best to seek
the assistance of a qualified lawyer if you need your current child support
order modified.