Melissa Hornik

Melissa Hornik is the Managing Partner at Kurgis & Associates in Columbus, Ohio — known as the People's Lawyer and a trusted authority in probate law with a particular focus on supporting personal injury practitioners across the state. Since 2007, she has filed cases in 59 of Ohio's 88 counties, building one of the most comprehensive statewide probate practices in Ohio.

Before joining Kurgis & Associates, Melissa ran her own firm for over 14 years, developing deep expertise in estate administration, wrongful death probate proceedings, and the intersection of probate law with personal injury litigation. Her ability to navigate complex probate matters — including opening estates for wrongful death claims, handling creditor negotiations, and managing multi-county filings — makes her an indispensable resource for attorneys handling serious injury and death cases throughout Ohio.

Melissa is known for her direct, client-centered approach and her ability to guide families through the probate process during some of the most difficult periods of their lives. Her combination of independent firm experience, statewide reach, and specialty expertise at the personal injury-probate intersection has established her as one of Ohio's leading voices in this area of practice.