Five attorneys working under one roof in Columbus, Ohio gives Artz, Dewhirst & Wheeler the depth to handle a genuinely broad range of legal matters without farming out work that clients expect to be managed in-house.

Introduction

Artz, Dewhirst & Wheeler is a Columbus, Ohio general practice firm with five attorneys: Thomas J. Addesa, Brian S. Artz, Chad M. Draheim, Carol A. Fey, and Terrence T. Wheeler. The firm operates from East Town Street in downtown Columbus and serves individuals, families, and businesses across central Ohio.

The practice covers family law in considerable depth, including adoption, surrogacy and assisted reproductive technology, and LGBTQ legal issues alongside the more standard divorce, custody, and prenuptial agreement work. It also handles probate, estate planning, business formation and operations, civil litigation, real estate, employment law, and personal injury. The firm’s stated commitment to individualized attention reflects the reality that a five-attorney firm can offer a level of personal engagement that larger practices often cannot.

Practice Areas

Family Law
The firm’s family law practice covers a wide range of matters. Adoption, including the legal process of establishing a permanent parent-child relationship through the courts, is handled alongside assisted reproductive technology and surrogacy arrangements, which require careful legal structuring before and during the process. Collaborative divorce, divorce mediation, and standard divorce and dissolution proceedings are all available, giving clients options based on the level of conflict in their situation.

Child custody matters, including parental rights and responsibilities and grandparents’ rights, are handled within the family law practice. Civil protection orders, prenuptial agreements, and LGBTQ legal issues round out the family law scope, making the firm one of the more comprehensive family law providers in central Ohio for clients with non-standard or legally complex family situations.

Probate, Wills, and Trusts
The firm handles the full range of estate planning and probate administration. Wills, trusts, and powers of attorney are prepared as part of a coherent plan for transferring assets and making decisions about care. Probate administration, the court-supervised process of settling a deceased person’s estate, is handled for families navigating that process.

Business Formations and Operations
Businesses at formation and businesses with ongoing legal needs are both served. The firm assists clients in choosing entity type, completing formation, and managing the legal questions that arise during business operations.

Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution
The firm handles civil litigation matters and offers dispute resolution services for parties seeking to resolve conflicts without full courtroom proceedings.

Real Estate Transactions
Real estate transaction support is available for clients buying, selling, or otherwise dealing with property in the central Ohio area.

Employment Law
Employment law matters involving employer-employee disputes, workplace rights, and related issues are within the firm’s practice.

Personal Injury
The firm handles personal injury cases for clients injured due to another party’s negligence.

Attorney Profiles

Thomas J. Addesa
Thomas J. Addesa is one of five attorneys at Artz, Dewhirst & Wheeler, contributing to the firm’s general practice scope in central Ohio.

Brian S. Artz
Brian S. Artz is among the founding names of the firm and contributes to its range of practice areas.

Chad M. Draheim
Chad M. Draheim is a member of the firm’s attorney team serving Columbus-area clients.

Carol A. Fey
Carol A. Fey practices at Artz, Dewhirst & Wheeler, adding to the firm’s capacity across its practice areas.

Terrence T. Wheeler
Terrence T. Wheeler is one of the firm’s named partners and contributes to the full range of services the firm provides.

Location & Service Area

Artz, Dewhirst & Wheeler is located at 560 E. Town Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. The firm serves clients throughout central Ohio and the Columbus area.

Phone: (614) 221-0944
Website: adwllp.com

Client Focus

The firm serves individuals, families, and businesses. The family law practice is broad enough to serve clients in adoption proceedings, ART and surrogacy situations, and LGBTQ legal matters that require an attorney familiar with how Ohio law applies to those family structures. The estate planning and probate practice serves families at both ends of the process, building plans in advance and administering estates after a death. Businesses at any stage of their life cycle can find relevant legal support in the firm’s business, employment, and litigation capabilities.

Five attorneys working within a general practice model means clients benefit from the breadth of the firm without being handed off to a referral network when their matter crosses practice area lines.

FAQ

Does the firm handle LGBTQ legal issues?
Yes. LGBTQ legal issues are specifically listed within the firm’s practice areas, reflecting the firm’s capacity to handle family law and other matters that involve legal questions specific to LGBTQ individuals and couples in Ohio.

What is the difference between collaborative divorce and mediation?
Collaborative divorce is a process in which both parties and their attorneys commit to resolving the divorce outside of court through structured negotiations. Mediation involves a neutral third party who facilitates agreement between the parties. The firm offers both approaches, allowing clients to choose the process that fits their situation.

Does the firm handle surrogacy and assisted reproductive technology matters?
Yes. ART and surrogacy are listed within the firm’s family law practice. These matters require legal structuring, including agreements between parties, before and during the process.

How many attorneys does the firm have?
Five: Thomas J. Addesa, Brian S. Artz, Chad M. Draheim, Carol A. Fey, and Terrence T. Wheeler.

Does the firm serve businesses as well as individuals?
Yes. The firm handles business formations and operations, civil litigation, employment law, and real estate transactions in addition to its family law and estate planning work. Individuals, families, and businesses are all within the firm’s client base.

Closing

A five-attorney general practice firm in Columbus with explicit capacity in adoption, surrogacy, LGBTQ issues, collaborative divorce, and mediation alongside business formation, employment, and civil litigation is a firm that has made deliberate choices about who it serves and how. Central Ohio clients who need legal support that covers more than one category of law, or whose situations fall into categories that require specific familiarity, can contact Artz, Dewhirst & Wheeler at (614) 221-0944 or visit adwllp.com.