Melissa Graham-Hurd graduated from the University of Akron School of  Law and has been serving clients since 1984. She is admitted to practice in all Ohio courts and all federal courts, including the Supreme Court of  the United States.

Ms. Graham-Hurd focuses on Family Law.

The term Family Law includes:

•  termination of marriage cases, whether it is Divorce or Dissolution;
• matters which arise after the Decree is issued, whether they are enforcement of the Decree by contempt actions or Motions to change the Decree such as parenting and support issues;
• problems of people who never married but had children and property together;
• guardianship and custody to third persons such as grandparents; and
• Wills and Trusts for people to be able to plan for their children.

She has been the Chair of the Akron Bar Association's Family Law Committee Chair of the Ohio State Bar Association Family Law Committee's CHAIR. She has assisted the OSBA numerous times in writing laws and rules for consideration by the Ohio Legislature and Ohio Supreme Court. Ms. Graham-Hurd frequently provides lectures and continuing education seminars for other attorneys in Family Law matters, and has written a chapter on Government Pensions in the most prominent Ohio Family Law treatise for lawyers. Melissa has a certificate in General and Family Mediation and has served children in family law cases as Guardian ad Litem since the program started in 1991.

Areas of Practice

• Child Support
• Custody & Visitation
• Divorce
• Family Law

Litigation Percentage

• 35% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

• Ohio, 1984
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 1985
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1990
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1999

Education

• University of Akron School of Law, Akron, Ohio, 1983
  Juris Doctor
  
  
• University of Akron, 1980
  B.A.
  Major: English and French
  
  
• University of Akron, Center for Dispute Resolution, 1980
  Certificate in Peace Studies
  
  

Published Works

• Government Retirement Benefits, Sowald Morganstern Domestic Relations Law, Baldwin's Ohio Practice Series, West Group Publishers, Updated Annually, 1997
• "Attorney Fees", Domestic Relations Journal of Ohio, West Publishing Co., July/August, 2003
• "Law in the 50 States", (Reporter), American Bar Association Family Law Quarterly

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Ohio Spousal Support Law, Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2006
• New Ohio Family Law Legislation, Akron Bar Association, 2005
• Ohio Spousal Support Proposals, Ohio Association of Magistrates, 2005
• Ohio Family Law Legislation, Akron Bar Association, 2004
• Post-Decree Children's Issues, Ohio State Bar Association Family Law Committee - Annual Conventions, 2003
• Tax and Divorce - A Practical Approach, Ohio CLE Institute, 2003
• Ethics and Malpractice, Akron Bar Association Family Law Section - Annual Seminar, 2002
• New Lawyers' Seminar, Domestic Relations, Akron Bar Association Young Lawyers Committee, 2002
• Coordination/Organization of Seminar, Ohio State Bar Association Family Law Committee - Annual Conventions, 2001 - 2002
• Parenting Case Law Update, Akron Bar Association, Family Law Section - Annual Seminar, 2000
• Shared Parenting Case Law Update, Akron Bar Association Family Law Section - Annual Seminar, 1999
• Tax Aspects of Divorce in Ohio, Miscellaneous Tax Provisions and Ethics, National Business Institute, 1999
• Coordination/Organization of Seminar, Ohio State Bar Association Family Law Committee - Annual Conventions, 1998
• Family Law in Ohio, Analysis of Financial Information, Preparation and Trial of a Divorce Case, National Business Institute, 1996
• Parenting Issues in Domestic Relations Cases in Ohio, Modification Proceedings, Evidentiary Problems in Initial Allocations and Modifications, National Business Institute, 1996
• Tax Aspects of Divorce in Ohio, Miscellaneous Tax Provisions and Ethics, National Business Institute, 1995
• Rules Update, Akron Bar Association Family Law Section - Annual Seminar, 1995
• Case Law Update, Akron Bar Association Family Law Section - Annual Seminar, 1994
• The New Child Support Statute, Akron Bar Association Family Law Section - Annual Seminar, 1993
• Tax Aspects of Divorce in Ohio, Miscellaneous Tax Provisions and Ethics, National Business Institute, 1993
• Bridge the Gap Seminar, Domestic Relations Section, Ohio CLE Institute, 1993
• New Lawyers' Seminar, Domestic Relations Sections, Akron Bar Association Young Lawyers Committee, 1990 - 1993
• Tax Aspects of Divorce in Ohio, Tax Treatment of Property Transfers Incident to a Divorce, Miscellaneous Tax Provisions, National Business Institute, 1992
• Creative Approaches when Seeking Visitation and New Developments in Child Custody Cases Involving the Use or Misuse of MMPIs, Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers - Annual Family Law Seminar, 1991
• The Need to Value Marital Property, Akron Bar Association Family Law Section - Annual Seminar, 1991
• Ethical, Procedural and Evidentiary Considerations in Sexual Abuse Cases, Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers - Annual Family Law Seminar, 1990
• Deviation from Child Support Guidelines, Akron Bar Association Family Law Section - Annual Seminar, 1989
• Complication of Handbook of Forms for Portage, Stark and Medina, Akron Bar Association Family Law Section - Annual Seminar, 1987

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Ohio Supreme Court
  Advisory Committee on Families, Children and the Court
  
  
• Ohio State Bar Association, 2002 - 2004
  Chair, Family Law Committee
  
  
• Ohio State Bar Association, 2000 - 2002
  Vice Chair, Family Law Committee
  
  
• Ohio State Bar Association, 1998 - 2000
  Secretary, Family Law Committee
  
  
• Ohio State Bar Association, 1996 - 1998
  Chair, Legislative Drafting Subcommittee
  
  
• Ohio State Bar Association, 1990 - 2002
  Legislative Drafting Subcommittee
  
  
• Ohio State Bar Association, 1998 - 2001
  Rules Subcommittee
  
  
• Ohio State Bar Association, 2001 - Present
  Council of Delegates
  
  
• Ohio State Bar Association, 2004 - Present
  Vice Chair Juvenile Justice Committee
  
  
• Ohio State Bar Association, 2001 - Present
  Juvenile Justice Committee
  
  
• Ohio State Bar Association, 1987 - Present
  Family Law Committee
  
  
• Ohio State Bar Association College, 1987 - Present
  Member
  
  
• Ohio State Bar Foundation, 2003 - Present
  Member
  
  
• American Bar Association, 1987 - Present
  Family Law Committee
  
  
• Akron Bar Association, Family Law Section, 1994
  Chair, Family Law Committee
  
  
• Akron Bar Association, Family Law Section, 1993
  Vice Chair, Family Law Committee
  
  
• Akron Bar Association, Family Law Section, 1989 - 1992
  Secretary/Treasurer, Family Law Committee
  
  
• Akron Bar Association, Family Law Section, 1985 - Present
  Family Law Committee
  
  
• Akron Bar Association, 1989 - 1991
  Vice Chair, Law Week Committee
  
  
• Akron Bar Association, 1984 - Present
  Member
  
  
• Akron Bar Association, 1984 - 1993
  Law Week Committee
  
  
• Akron Bar Association, 1990 - 1992
  Mentoring
  
  
• Akron Bar Association, 1993 - 1994
  Bar Applicants Interviews
  
  
• Akron Bar Association, 1989 - 1991
  Grievance Committee
  
  
• Akron Bar Association, 1984 - 1992
  Young Lawyers Committee
  
  
• Ohio State Bar Association
  Member
  
  
• Legal Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee, 2006 - Present
  Member
  
  

Pro Bono Activities

• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, Guardian ad Litem Program, 1991 - 2005
• Ohio Supreme Court Advisory Committee - Children, Families and the Court, 2004
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, Arbitration Project, 2002
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, Community Collaboration on Post-Decree Education Program, 2002
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, Community Collaboration on Post-Decree Education Program, 2000 - 2002
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, Friends of the Court, 1994 - 2002
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, Rules Committee, 2001
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, Forms Revisions, 1999
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, Rules Committee, 1999
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, Strategic Long Range Planning, 1998 - 1999
• Summit County Common Pleas Court , Juvenile Division, Rules Committee, 1997 - 1998
• Summit County Common Pleas Court , Juvenile Division, Guardian ad Litem, 1997
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, Standard Visitation Order Revisions, 1997
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, General Division, Arbitration Panel, 1989 - 1997
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, Community Collaboration on Post-Decree Education Program, 1996
• Battered Women's Shelter of Summit and Portage County, Ohio, Telephone Pro Bono Volunteer, 1995
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, Rules Committee, 1995
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, Forms Revisions, 1995
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Division, Task Force Regarding Court Facility and Staff, 1993 - 1994
• Battered Women's Shelter of Summit and Portage County, Ohio, Police Protocol Task Force, 1993 - 1994
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, VLSP pro se Dissolution Revisions, 1993 - 1994
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, General Division, Settlement Week Panel, 1990 - 1994
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, Rules Committee, 1993
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, Rules Committee, 1991
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, Arbitration Project, 1991
• Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, Standard Visitation Order Revisions, 1991
• Battered Women's Shelter of Summit and Portage County, Ohio, Advocate/Volunteer Training, 1985 - 1987
• Community Legal Aid Services - Volunteer Legal Services Program, 1985

Birth Information

• September 18, 1956, Akron, Ohio, United States of America