I am Bobbie O’Keefe, and I have been practicing family law in Ohio for over 25 years. My firm’s focus is divorce and dissolution options, such as mediation and collaborative divorce. A substantial part of my practice also involves custody for never married clients, and paternity matters.

Prior to becoming a family law attorney, I handled communications for an outpatient mental health and inpatient psychiatric facility. After intensive training, I received crisis calls and walk-ins with people experiencing problems such as suicide, drug abuse, incest, rape and domestic violence. This background allows me to understand and consider my clients’ emotional needs during the stress-inducing and emotionally draining process of marriage termination.

Some of my professional activities include being an active member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, the Columbus Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association. I am also a Life Fellow of the Fellows Class of the Ohio State Bar Foundation. Membership in this foundation is reserved for lawyers whose careers have demonstrated their dedication to the highest ideals of the legal profession and the well-being of the community.

I enjoy speaking about topics that are of special interest to me, including collaborative divorce, mediation, co-parenting and the impact of mental health and addiction concerns on court-involved families. I have written extensively about alternative dispute resolution strategies in custody cases. I am a board member of the Prevention Action Alliance of Ohio, a nonprofit agency dedicated to the prevention of mental health problems and substance use disorders, as well as the Ohio Chapter of Family and Conciliation Courts. 

Does Your Divorce Include Children With Special Needs?

I adopted three children with varying levels of special needs. I am also well-versed with cases in which mental health, substance abuse disorders, and high-conflict parenting disputes are central issues. Former clients have told me that they appreciate how caring and nonjudgmental I am when they were dealing with tumultuous family law matters.

I have served as guardian ad litem for the Franklin County, Ohio Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court, and the Delaware County Domestic Relations Court. I have also served as a state-approved respite foster parent for children receiving services at the Buckeye Boy’s Ranch for at-risk youth in Columbus.