Melissa brings years of experience in the practice of law, primarily in the areas of family law and criminal law. She now focuses her practice on collaborative divorce and custody matters in Creek, Okfuskee, and Okmulgee Counties. She believes that whenever possible, parties to a divorce or custody proceeding are best served by discussing opportunities for a collaborative agreement early in the process, rather than jumping directly into expensive and stressful litigation. Melissa also handles a variety of criminal matters and enjoys working with nonprofits and small businesses on policy writing, contract development, and other organizational matters. She handles a variety of civil matters as well.. Melissa also has a passion for serving her community and for the preservation of Historic Oklahoma once serving as a Board Member of the Bristow Historical Society. She is a current Trustee for the Bristow Public Library. Melissa received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Tulsa in 2002 after completing a double major in literature and fine art and a minor in art history. She then attended the University of Oklahoma where she was awarded her Juris Doctorate in 2005. Melissa is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and the Okmulgee and Tulsa County Bar Associations. Melissa is admitted in the Northern, Eastern, and Western District Courts of Oklahoma, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. She is also a certified divorce and family mediator in Oklahoma. A fourth-generation Bristow resident, she and her husband have raised their three children in that community, volunteering extensively with local organizations.
