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Criminal Defense
and Civil Litigation

If you are in court and a judge is deciding your freedom, the custody of your children, whether you will be evicted, or a significant amount of your property, you will generally get a much better result with a competent attorney.

See How Jim Can Help

If police want to talk to you: do not talk. Ask for an attorney. Read why →

“I have been where you are.”

Jim’s robbery conviction, his disbarment, and the twenty year road back. Why it makes him a better lawyer →

What Do You Need Help With?

Tap a topic to see what to do and how Jim can help.

Charged With a Crime in Utah?
Select your charge and see what happens next, in English or Spanish

DUI / Impaired Driving

Arrested for DUI or impaired driving?

License suspension, implied consent, breath tests, field sobriety, court dates. What happens next and what your options are.

More information →

Drug Possession / Distribution

Charged with a drug offense in Utah?

Possession, distribution, paraphernalia, controlled substance charges. What the law says and how these cases are defended.

More information →

Domestic Violence / Protective Order

Charged with domestic violence or served with a protective order?

A DV arrest can trigger three simultaneous proceedings: criminal, civil protective order, and DCFS. Federal firearms consequences apply immediately.

More information →

Felony Charge

Facing a felony in Utah?

Felonies range from third-degree to first-degree. Prison time, loss of voting rights, firearms, and employment consequences all depend on how the case is handled from the start.

More information →

Misdemeanor Charge

Charged with a misdemeanor?

Misdemeanors are not minor to you. A conviction means jail time, fines, probation, and a record that appears on background checks for housing, jobs, and licenses.

More information →

Sex Crime Accusation

Accused of a sex offense in Utah?

Sex crime accusations move fast and carry consequences that extend far beyond the criminal case itself. Registry, housing, employment, and family law are all affected.

More information →

Assault or Battery

Charged with assault in Utah?

Assault charges range from Class B misdemeanor to first-degree felony depending on circumstances, weapon use, and victim status. The details of the arrest matter enormously.

More information →

Theft / Shoplifting / Burglary

Arrested for theft or burglary in Utah?

Many first-offense theft and shoplifting cases qualify for diversion, which can result in dismissal and no criminal record. Do not plead guilty before speaking with an attorney.

More information →

Not sure what applies? Call for a free consultation.

Free Consultation: (801) 641-0883
Arrested for DUI?
You have 10 days to protect your license

Two cases start the moment you are arrested: a criminal case in court and a license case at the Driver License Division. You have only 10 days from the arrest to request the license hearing. Jim handles both cases.

What to do after a DUI arrest → The 10 day license hearing → Every DUI type and penalty → The traffic stop → Field sobriety tests → The court process →

Call (801) 641-0883

Pulled Over by Police?
What to do in the critical first minutes

Pulled Over · Critical First Minutes

Do Not Talk. It Is the Single Best Thing You Can Do For Your Case.

When you see red and blue in the mirror, what you say in the next two minutes will shape your entire case.

Rear-view mirror showing red and blue police flashing lights
You must provide your license, registration, and proof of insurance. You do not have to answer questions.
"I only had two beers" becomes the prosecution's first piece of evidence. Politely decline questions. Stay calm.
Say only: "I want an attorney. I have nothing to say." Then repeat it. Nothing else.
What to Do When Pulled Over →
Arrested After a Domestic Dispute?
One argument and a 911 call can become a criminal case

Once 911 is called, the case belongs to the state. Your partner cannot drop the charges, and the release conditions usually mean no contact, even at home, even by text. A DV arrest can also trigger a protective order and a DCFS investigation at the same time. Do not talk to police, and do not violate the no-contact conditions. Get counsel before your first court date.

How a minor fight becomes a DV arrest → Three cases running at once →

Call (801) 641-0883

Family Law: Three Ways to Get Help
Full representation, document help, or a $500 flat fee uncontested petition

You decide how much help you need. You pay for that and nothing more.

Option 1

Full Representation

Jim takes the whole case: strategy, filings, negotiation, hearings, and trial when it comes to that. For contested divorce, custody, and support fights where the outcome matters most.

Option 2

Form & Document Help

You represent yourself. Jim drafts and checks the paperwork, walks you through the procedure, and flags the traps before you hit them. Far less expensive than full representation.

Option 3 · $500 Flat Fee

Uncontested Petition

When you and your spouse already agree on the terms, Jim turns that agreement into a signed decree. $500 flat fee plus the $325 court filing fee, with all paperwork drafted and filed.

Not sure which option fits? Call Jim and he will tell you straight, in one conversation, at no charge.

Stalking Injunctions
Get a court order that stops the harassment, or defend against one

Someone Will Not Leave You Alone?
A Court Order Can Stop It.

A civil stalking injunction is a court order against a person who keeps following, contacting, watching, or threatening you. You do not need to file criminal charges to get one. In urgent cases the court can issue it the same day you ask. Violating it is a crime.

Jim has handled civil stalking injunction cases and knows what judges look for. If you need protection, or if an injunction has been filed against you, call before the hearing.

Expungement: Clear Your Criminal Record
$500 flat fee for qualifying misdemeanors

Clear Your Criminal Record. Move Forward.

A criminal record follows you into every job application, rental search, and licensing proceeding. Utah law allows many offenses to be expunged and sealed from public view so you can legally say the arrest or conviction never happened. Jim handles the entire process: eligibility review, BCI Certificate of Eligibility, petition drafting, and court hearings.

Misdemeanor Expungement

$500

Flat fee for a single qualifying misdemeanor conviction. BCI and court filing fees are additional.

Felony Expungement

From $1,000

Fee depends on complexity. Free consultation to review your record and determine the exact fee.

Facing Eviction or Got Court Papers?
Tenant tools and next steps, in English and Spanish
Select what describes your situation for information and next steps.
Being Sued?
You have 21 days to respond. Doing nothing means losing.

If you were served with a lawsuit, the clock is already running. If you do not file an Answer, the other side wins by default and can collect against your wages and property. Jim defends lawsuits, drafts answers and counterclaims, and handles contract disputes, defamation, and post-judgment problems.

I have been served. Now what? → Send Jim the paperwork →

About Jim Tily

Background & Experience

“I tell you what the case is worth, what it will cost, and what the realistic outcomes are. Before the work begins.”

Jim grew up along Philadelphia’s Main Line, graduated from Penn State, and earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2000. During law school he worked in the legal department of the Communications Workers of America in Washington, D.C., on federal labor and employment litigation, class actions, and proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board.

Read Jim’s full background: Anderson & Karrenberg, public defender years, Skordas & Caston, and relicensure ▾

After Georgetown, Jim joined Anderson & Karrenberg in Salt Lake City, focusing on pretrial motion practice in federal and state court, commercial disputes, employment cases, and the Stenovich shareholder class action arising from First Security’s merger with Wells Fargo. He later served as a public defender in Washington County, Utah, representing adults and juveniles across the full range of felony and misdemeanor charges, including felony jury trials.

In June 2025 Jim joined the criminal defense firm Skordas & Caston as a law clerk and was immediately working on serious felony cases in federal and state court. He prepared his own petition for relicensure, which was granted in August 2025, and he was admitted to practice that same month. Read the whole story here.

As an attorney at Skordas & Caston, Jim worked on numerous felony and misdemeanor cases throughout the Salt Lake valley and argued criminal and civil motions in Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Summit, and Utah counties. He served as second chair in a felony jury trial. His cases included DUI, sex crimes, probation violations, orders to show cause, and discovery litigation in federal court. On the civil side he handled divorce, protective orders, child protective orders, and civil stalking injunctions. He represented clients in DCFS administrative actions, represented crime victims asserting their rights in criminal cases, defended police officers in POST discipline proceedings, served as grievance representative for a state law enforcement officer against the Department of Public Safety, and handled administrative matters before the Utah State Bar’s Office of Professional Conduct and Admissions. In April 2026 he opened his own firm, Tily Law LLC.

Today Jim practices criminal defense and civil litigation in state and federal courts across the Salt Lake valley. He handles every case personally. Telephone calls and emails are returned the same day.

Legal Insights: 21 Articles From the Blog
Criminal Defense & Victim Rights · 7 articles

Talk to Jim Before You Decide Anything

Jim will help you understand your options and develop an immediate plan of action. Consultations are free.

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Don't wait. The sooner you have an attorney, the better your options. Consultations are free and confidential. Call or send a message and Jim will get back to you promptly.

Office 150 South 600 East, Suite 9C
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
Hours Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
Evenings & weekends by appointment

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Licensed in Utah
J.D., Georgetown Law
Same-Day Response
Free Consultation · (801) 641-0883