Melissa Holderby

Melissa has 20 years of family law litigation and appellate experience in northeast Oklahoma and tribal courts.  She specializes in guardianship, adoption, and mediation.  She handles a variety of matters for our clients including adult guardianship of elderly or disabled persons, minor guardianship of children, adoption of both children and adults, and name changes.  Melissa also represents the best interest of adults and children as a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem.  She particularly enjoys her mediation practice, getting all sides together under one roof (if not always in the same room) to find peaceable solutions that meets the legal and emotional needs of everyone involved.

Melissa, her husband, and their three (almost-grown) children make the best of their spare time at their rural home where she keeps bees and chickens, and gardens ineffectively.  She just concluded a five-year tenure as president of the City of Bristow Library Board of Trustees and also volunteers with the Bristow Historical Society.

AREAS OF PRACTICE
Litigation:

• Adult guardianship
• Minor guardianship
• Adult adoption
• Minor adoption
• Name change

Mediation, Dispute Resolution, and Family Collaboration

Guardian ad Litem (custody, guardianship, and adoption)

Litigation: 60%
Mediation: 40%

ADMISSIONS
Oklahoma Bar Association
All US District Courts for Oklahoma
U.S. Court of Appeals, 10^th Circuit
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Tribal Court

EDUCATION
University of Tulsa
Bachelor of Arts, 2002
Major Areas: Fine Art and Literature
Minor Area: Art History
Kappa Delta

University of Oklahoma
Juris Doctorate, 2005
Oklahoma Journal of Law & Technology