Pataskala, OH

C. Daniel Hayes

Attorney Dan Hayes rejoined the firm in 2007 to handle wrongful death litigation, personal injury matters, complex litigation, and vaccine claims after serving as Licking County’s Common Pleas Court Magistrate. He finds personal injury lawyer solicitation repugnant and refuses to engage in them.

W. Scott Hayes

Attorney Scott Hayes officially joined Hayes Law Offices in 1993, though he began carrying a briefcase in 7th grade. Scott has been certified by the Ohio State Bar Association as a Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law since 2007. His primary areas of practice include Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts, Estate Administration, Trust Administration, Adoption Law, Guardianship Law, and just about anything else you can do in Probate Court.

Melinda G. Seeds

Attorney Melinda Seeds joined the firm in 2007. Melinda affords clients years of family law experience as well as insight and experience in juvenile law matters obtained as Licking County’s chief juvenile prosecutor. She skillfully helps clients have a realistic view of their situation, see past their present hardships, focus on their children, and seek reasonable, mutually agreed upon resolutions. Should that prove impossible, Melinda is a strong, experienced advocate. Melinda also serves as a Guardian ad Litem, representing the best interests of children in a wide variety of cases.

Samuel A. Seeds

Attorney Samuel Seeds joined the firm as an attorney in 2021, after enjoying several years as an associate at Dinsmore & Shohl’s Columbus office. He is no stranger to Hayes Law Offices though - he worked in several capacities for Hayes since he was in high school. Sam’s areas of practice include business matters, estate and trust administration, and estate planning. Sam grew up in Licking County and now lives here with his wife, two sons, and three dogs. Sam is also the third lawyer practicing at Hayes who has followed in a parent’s footsteps into the field of law.

Laurie R. Wells

Attorney Laurie Wells joined the firm in 2008 after a long career in the Licking County court system. A Mount Vernon Nazarene University graduate in psychology and long-time adult probation officer, Laurie understands people. Her primary practice area includes real estate law, contract preparation, and negotiation. She manages the day-to-day operations of the affiliated title insurance agency. Laurie also serves as a Guardian ad Litem, representing the best interests of children in a wide variety of cases.

Sydnie M. Boykins

Attorney Sydnie Boykins joined the firm in 2023. Sydnie’s main area of practice is business law, with a focus on entity formation and dissolution, acquisitions, corporate agreements, intellectual property, and compliance. She also practices commercial real estate law. Prior to joining the office, she worked in the medical field, obtained experience with claim adjudication as a Legal Intern for the state of Ohio, and handled intellectual property and commercial law matters as a Legal Intern at PowerSchool Group LLC. In her free time, Sydnie enjoys spending time with her family, fiction writing, and traveling. She published her first novel, Uncliqueable, in 2018. Sydnie is the second lawyer in the third generation of lawyers at Hayes Law Offices.