Tupelo Legal Issues Blog

Couples who own significant assets have a more complicated process if they decide to divorce. The equitable division of homes, money, investments and other items of value can be difficult.

Therefore, it is important for couples to know before they begin their divorce what property division in Mississippi looks like and how it affects them.

If you've committed a federal crime, you could be looking at charges through the federal system. The trouble with federal charges is that they are crimes that violate federal laws. Often, they're felonies. Felonies come with minimum penalties and serious fines, and they're often difficult to defend against.

If you are charged with a crime, it's better to fight to keep the charges in the state courts. State courts and federal courts are different, and the outcome for similar cases could vary widely. For instance, a robbery charged at the federal level might have minimum penalties, but the same crime charged at the state level could have no minimums. This is something that is extremely important when working on a defense and potential plea bargain.

Child custody is one of the most complicated parts of divorce. Even when both parents get along well, custody rights can come under dispute.

It is most common for couples to resolve custody disputes informally. This is when you and your spouse talk on your own and decide what will work best for your situation. If you cannot resolve the dispute on your own, then there is the possibility of going through mediation, arbitration or trial to find a solution.

Child custody often becomes most difficult when a child gets to the age that he or she has an opinion. Whether your child is a young teenager or one about to reach adulthood, there is a chance that they will have something to say about any parenting plan or arrangement you set up during a divorce.

As a parent, it is well within your rights to put your foot down and tell your child what is going to happen if it's in their best interests. However, it is usually in your child's best interest to have some kind of say once they are old enough to understand what they are doing. For example, a 15-year-old child may wish to live with their Mom or Dad depending on their gender because of puberty. That would be a reasonable request and something that parents should consider carefully.