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Practice Areas

Focused Expertise. Relentless Advocacy. Trusted Results.

At Bolton Law PLLC, we offer strategic legal solutions across a range of practice areas, each handled with precision, integrity, and unwavering commitment. Our attorneys bring deep knowledge and tenacious litigation skills to every case, ensuring our clients receive the highest level of representation.

Criminal Defense

Being charged with a criminal offense is daunting. You have to prepare a defense all while you are trying to maintain your normal life. Meanwhile, just being charged may result in you being arrested, detained in jail and losing your job. The chances of conviction are great. The state or federal government has almost unlimited resources when prosecuting you. Although there are no guarantees in the legal system, you need the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney like Jill Bolton and her team of experienced criminal defense lawyers.

At Bolton Law, we know what to expect from the other side. Jill Bolton spent several years as a deputy state prosecutor. She moved from there to spend 13 years as a federal prosecutor. So, whether you have been charged in state of federal court, she and her team knows how to help you.

Both state and federal crimes carry severe penalties. If it is not your first offense, the penalties will likely be enhanced. No matter how minor the charge may seem, nor how serious, you are entitled to due process of law, the right to full disclosure of the government’s evidence, the right to confront and cross-examine witnesses, the right to remain silent and hold the government to their burden of proof, to affirmatively present your own defense, and to a full and fair trial by a jury of your peers.

At Bolton Law, we make certain that all of your constitutional rights are protected. We know when negotiating for reduced charges or penalties is the right thing to do. If taking your case to trial is in your best interest, we have the skills and experience to put on your best defense before a judge or jury.

Some of the specific areas we work in include:

  • White collar crimes/fraud – A white collar crime is defined as “A crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation.” Allegations against you and your business can end your professional career and damage your reputation beyond repair. Early intervention to prevent charges as soon as you become aware of an investigation is critical.
  • Drug trafficking and possession – Penalties are severe whether the charges are in state or federal court. Detail oriented review of the government’s evidence and skilled examination of government witnesses is your best defense.
  • Firearms possession – Many criminal convictions and domestic violence actions can impact your right to possess firearms and ammunition. Possessing a firearm as a prohibited person or in combination with other crimes can result in lengthy sentences.
  • Driving under the influence – DUI have serious consequences for your driver’s license and incarceration consequences. Hearings to address the administrative impact on your license are critical and must be set quickly. Early intervention with an experienced attorney at Bolton Law is your best defense.  
  • Juvenile Offenses – if your child is facing a juvenile offense, you need trusted experience to ensure your child’s rights are protected and an outcome that promotes their future is best achieved.

At Bolton Law, we fight to obtain the best possible outcome for you no matter what criminal offense you have been accused of committing. Contact our office as soon as possible.

Family Law

Family law encompasses a number of different issues. Some are often uncomfortable, like divorce, child custody and asset division. Others can be joyous occasions, like adoptions. At Bolton Law, we work with our clients and opposing attorneys in order to facilitate the best possible outcome.

Psychologists and psychiatrists confirm that going through a divorce is the second most stressful event of a person’s life. At Bolton law, we do what we can to make the process as simple and straightforward as possible.

Idaho is a community property state, which means assets you accumulated together during the course of your marriage belong equally to you both.

We help parents form their own parenting agreements. If that is not possible, we go to trial and present evidence in support of the position of our client to promote the best interest of your child(ren).

Children are entitled to know who their father is. Whether you are a mother trying to establish paternity and collect child support, or a father who wants to establish a relationship with your child, at Bolton Law, we can help.

Every parent is responsible for the support of their children. Amounts each parent must contribute depends on the unique circumstances of each case.

An adoption can be a very happy event, but it is not without its own set of stressors. Idaho has strict laws concerning who can adopt and who can be adopted. Biological parents must give their consent or have their paternal rights legally terminated.

Whatever your family law needs are, you can trust Bolton Law to be a strong advocate for you. We have a track record of success in fighting for children and their families.

Resources

It is critically important that you obtain the necessary Divorce and Child Custody order and the assistance of an attorney in that process will help prevent critical mistakes that cause problems for you in the future. Contact Bolton Law for the important help you will need to guide you through this important legal proceeding.

There are two categories of divorce cases: no-fault or fault-based divorce. As the classification implies, in a no-fault divorce case you do not have to prove that your spouse was at fault for the divorce, only irreconcilable differences, which means that you and your spouse simply can’t get along.

For fault-based divorce, however, you have to prove spousal misconduct which has led to the divorce. Idaho fault grounds include:

  • Adultery 
  • Extreme Cruelty 
  • willful desertion (one spouse must have lived apart for more than one year with the intention of abandoning the marriage)
  • willful neglect (one spouse’s failure to provide the other spouse with the common necessaries of life for at least one year)
  • habitual drunkenness for more than one year
  • a felony conviction, and
  • permanent insanity (spouse must have been a resident of a mental institution for at least three years).

While no-fault cases are usually an easier process, there are reasons to seek a fault-based divorce, such as implications to property division, child custody, and support awards.

The majority of Idaho’s family law forms are easily accessible from the Idaho Judicial Branch’s Self-Help website. Make note of the fact that the form you need to complete based on where you live in Idaho.

To file for divorce without children in Idaho, you must submit the following forms:

  • Family Law Case Information Sheet
  • Petition for Divorce (No Children)
  • Summons with Orders
  • Affidavit of Service with Orders, and
  • Vital Statistics Form.

If you have children, you’ll need to file the following Idaho divorce forms:

  • Family Law Case Information Sheet
  • Petition for Divorce (With Children)
  • Summons with Orders
  • Affidavit of Service with Orders
  • Affidavit Verifying Income
  • Shared or Split Custody Worksheet or Standard Custody Worksheet
  • Parenting Plan, and
  • Vital Statistics Certificate of Divorce.

Idaho Legal Aid

Idaho’s Legal Services Directory

Idaho Divorce FAQ from Womenslaw.org

Idaho.gov’s Divorce Homepage 

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Adoption FAQ

Adoption Information from Considering Adoption 

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Employment Law

Federal and state laws prohibit employer discrimination against certain protected classes of employees. This includes not discriminating against employees on the basis of their:

  • Age
  • Disability
  • Gender
  • Race
  • Color
  • Country of national origin
  • Religion
  • Sexual orientation

There are specific laws governing each type of discrimination and measures employers can take to avoid allegations of discrimination. In order to prevail on a discrimination claim, an employee must prove the employer took an identifiable “adverse action” based only upon the employee’s membership in a protected class.

The state of Idaho has its own set of anti-discrimination laws based on the same list of protected classes. The state encourages employees who feel they are being discriminated against to contact the Idaho Human Rights Commission. They may be able to help you come to an informal and confidential resolution.

Both state and federal law also prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee who has filed a complaint or objected to the discriminatory act. Retaliation may include acts of:

  • Failing to recommend the employee for a promotion
  • Not offering overtime work to the employee when other employees are being offered it, and the employee has worked overtime in the past
  • Giving the employee unpleasant assignments
  • Terminating the employee for no reason other than the employee filing a complaint

At Bolton law, whether you are an employer being accused of discrimination, or an employee who believes you were discriminated against by your employer, contact us. We can help.

If you believe that you have been the victim of employment discrimination based on the protected classes mentioned above, you can file a discrimination claim either with the federal administrative agency, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), or the state administrative agency, the Idaho Human Rights Commission (IHRC). The two agencies have a “work-sharing agreement”, meaning that the agencies cooperate to process claims. Whichever claim you decide to file, make sure to indicate that you want your claim to be “cross-filed”, which makes it unnecessary to file with both agencies. One Important point: Idaho anti-discrimination law covers smaller businesses than federal law. An employer with as few as 5 employees is covered in Idaho. Whether you are protected by the federal anti-discrimination laws, depends on the type of employer and the number of employees .” Otherwise, you may file with either agency.

This process is time-sensitive, so do not delay filing an employment-discrimination claim. For the IHRC, you must file a claim with one year of the date you believe you were discriminated against. For the EEOC, the following deadlines apply:

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII) charges must be filed with EEOC within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory act. However, in states or localities where there is an antidiscrimination law and an agency authorized to grant or seek relief, a charge must be presented to that state or local agency. Furthermore, in such jurisdictions, you may file charges with EEOC within 300 days of the discriminatory act, or 30 days after receiving notice that the state or local agency has terminated its processing of the charge, whichever is earlier. It is best to contact EEOC promptly when discrimination is suspected. When charges or complaints are filed beyond these time frames, you may not be able to obtain any remedy.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – The time requirements for filing a charge are the same as those for Title VII charges.

Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) – The time requirements for filing a charge are the same as those for Title VII and the ADA.

Equal Pay Act (EPA) – Individuals are not required to file an EPA charge with EEOC before filing a private lawsuit. However, charges may be filed with EEOC and some cases of wage discrimination also may be violations of Title VII. If an EPA charge is filed with EEOC, the procedure for filing is the same as for charges brought under Title VII. However, the time limits for filing in court are different under the EPA, thus, it is advisable to file a charge as soon as you become aware the EPA may have been violated.


Before filing a claim, we suggest you schedule a consultation with Bolton Law or another employment law attorney who can help you with this process.

After you file your claim with the EEOC or IHRC, the agency may do one of the following:

  1. Ask both you and the employer to take part in a mediation program
  2. Ask the employer to provide a written answer to your charge and answer questions related to your claim, then your charge will be given to an investigator
  3. Dismiss the claim if your charge was not filed in time or if the EEOC does not have jurisdiction

If the agency completes the investigation (option 2), which takes about 3-6 months, and finds discrimination did not occur, they will send you a “Notice of Right to Sue”. This is not uncommon and will allow you to file a lawsuit in either State or Federal court. If they find that discrimination did occur , they will try and achieve a voluntary settlement with the employer. If unachievable, the agency’s legal team will determine if they should file a lawsuit, otherwise they will give you a “Notice of Right to Sue”. In order to pursue an employment discrimination case in court, you must exhaust this administrative remedy.

When you receive a “Notice of Right to Sue”, you have 90 days to file a lawsuit in state or federal court. We highly suggest that you consult with an employment discrimination attorney before this time, to make sure your lawsuit is accurately and successfully filed in a timely manner.

IHRC:

Idaho Human Rights Commission Website

Contact Information for Idaho Human Rights Commission

Understanding the Prohibited Practices Page for Idaho Human Rights Commission

Complaint Questionnaire

EEOC:

To file a claim with the EEOC, Idaho’s claimants will contact the EEOC office listed below. More information about filing a claim with the EEOC can be found at the EEOC’s How To File a Claim Page .

EEOC — Seattle District Office

Federal Office Building

909 First Avenue, Suite 400

Seattle, WA 98104-1061

Phone: 206-220-6883

TTY: 206-220-6882

Information on filing a claim

If you would like a brief history of the important discrimination laws that protect you, find more information in our blog post “Know Your Rights: Overview of Disability Employment Rights”.

Your Rights Matter
Let’s Protect Them Together

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Civil Rights

Civil rights protect individuals from discrimination and ensure equal treatment under the law, regardless of race, gender, religion, or other personal characteristics. These rights empower people to access education, employment, housing, and public services fairly, and are enforced through legal action when violated.

Protects individuals from workplace discrimination based on race, gender, religion, age, disability, or sexual orientation. Enforced by laws like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Ensures fair access to the electoral process, prohibiting voter suppression and discrimination based on race, language, or disability.
Guarantees equal access to public education and prohibits discrimination in schools and universities.
Protects against discrimination in renting, buying, or financing homes based on race, religion, national origin, sex, family status, or disability.

Your Case. Our Commitment.

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Appeals

If you lose your case in state or federal court, in either a civil or criminal case, you can ask a higher court to review the decision to see if any reversible errors were made. In a criminal case, the prosecution may not appeal an acquittal.

There are rules established by each court that must be followed. These concern things like how much time you have to file your notice of appeal, when your opening brief must be filed, how many pages long the brief can be and many other procedural rules that do not affect the substance of your appeal.

The appeals court does not just pick up your file and review the case. An appeals attorney must review the trial transcript and all motion hearings and documents on file in the lower court. At Bolton Law, we then prepare a brief that we file with the appeals court. In that brief, we present issues to the appeals court where we believe based on the law, the trial court erred. This is almost always based on the court having erroneously admitted evidence that prejudiced your case, or erroneously denied you the opportunity to present evidence that would have helped your case.

 

We not only have to convince the appeals court that an error was made, we have to convince it that the error was not “harmless.” We must prove that the error resulted in you having a trial that was so unfair, you either need a new trial, or the criminal charges or civil case needs to be dismissed.

Appellate courts may schedule an oral argument or decide the case on the merits of the briefs. If an oral argument is scheduled, only the attorneys are required to attend. The members of the court panel ask questions of the attorneys in order to clarify the issues and give the attorneys one last chance to argue why you should win your appeal. At Bolton Law, we understand how important appeals are. Contact us to discuss your case. Together, we can decide if an appeal is in your best interest.
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