Mark Hales has more than 20 years of legal experience in family, criminal, and civil law. He handles all types of domestic matters, including custody, divorce, child support, alimony, annulment, termination of parental rights, paternity, modifications, and adoptions. In addition, he defends clients charged with domestic violence and abuse, stalking, violations of protective orders, and other criminal charges. Mark is a certified mediator for all legal matters and is also a certified guardian ad litem.
Mark has been a volunteer Small Claims Court Judge since 2009 and has presided over five thousand cases involving torts, breach of contract, and personal injury.
Mark previously spent time in American Samoa as an Assistant Attorney General. While there, he handled criminal cases ranging from “too many coconuts in the back of a pick-up truck” to cases involving homicide, governmental corruption, and other serious crimes. He also defended the government in civil matters, provided legal counsel to the Governor and other departments, and served as the Deputy Director of Consumer Protection.
Mark served four years on the Bluffdale City Council. He previoulsy was the Chair of the Bluffdale Historic Preservation Commission and a member of the Board of Adjustments for Bluffdale and West Valley City. He also served on the Board of Directors for Camp Kostopulos, which is Utah’s foremost charity for children and adults with disabilities. Mark has his HAM radio license, has been a high school football coach, and has acted in several movies, plays, and a local murder mystery dinner theater.
Mark’s legal work and effort can best be summed up by United States District Court Senior Judge Reggie Walton when he wrote, “[Counsel] Hales has gone above and beyond the call of duty.” Mahjor v. Kempthorne, 518 F.Supp.2d 221, 240 (2007).