Mark Hales has over 17 years of legal experience in the areas of 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 and 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 was the Deputy Director of Consumer Protection.
In 2019, Mark was elected to his first term on the Bluffdale City Council. Previously, he 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 was 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 and plays.
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).
