Carolyn M. Grimes

Ms. Grimes is a partner in the firm, practicing in all areas of family law including divorce, spousal support, child custody, child support, equitable distribution, retirement issues, and prenuptial agreements, among other areas. She practices in all of the Circuit and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts in Northern Virginia and has argued before the Court of Appeals. She has lectured on family law topics ranging from custody to retirement issues, including military, federal, civilian and Foreign Service retirement issues, for various organizations in the Commonwealth. In addition to traditional litigation, Ms. Grimes practices law in the collaborative law model. She is also a mediator herself. Named a Top Attorney in 2015 from Washingtonian Magazine, Ms. Grimes actively serves the community as well. She was the 2009 and 2006 President of the Board of Directors for Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV), has served on its Board for many years and has performed many hours of pro bono work for the organization. She is a Past President of the Alexandria Bar Association, for which she has co chaired the Pro Bono and Community Service Committee and chaired the "Beat the Odds" Program, a scholarship program for youths who have overcome adversity. She also participated in the American Bar Association program offering legal assistance to victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. She is currently serving her second term on Bar Council for the Virginia State Bar and has been a panel chair for the Virginia State Bar Fee Dispute Program as well. Carolyn M. Grimes visit superlawyers.com Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Carolyn M. Grimes included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell 2016 Top Rated Family Law Lawyer, Martindale-Hubbell 2016 Top Rated Lawyers in Virginia, Richmond Magazine, Washington Post Magazine 2015 Top Attorney Washingtonian Magazine 2014-15 Best Lawyers in America, U.S News & World Report 2014-16 Avvo.com Rating of 10.0 2011 Virginia's Leaders in the Law for 2011, 2011 - 2016 2007-2016 Super Lawyers for Northern Virginia and Washington DC 2008, 2013-14 Virginia's Legal Elite 2011, 2015 Top Lawyer by Northern Virginia Magazine 2006 Local Bar Leader of the Year, Conference of Local Bar Associations, VSB 2001 Northern Virginia Pro Bono Attorney of the Year award, LSNV 2011-2017 Virginia State Bar Council, Elected 2017 Super Lawyers Top 100 in Virginia and Top 50 Women in Virginia Other Sources of Feedback About Carolyn M. Grimes Included on the 2026Virginia Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 Virginia Super Lawyers list 2024 Virginia Super Lawyers list 2023 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2022 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2021 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2020 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2019 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2018 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2017 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2016 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2015 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2014 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2013 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2012 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2011 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2010 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2009 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2008 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2007 Virginia Super Lawyers list

• “QDROs and Complex Retirement Issues”, NBI, April 2017
• 2015 Updates to Family Law, Virginia MCLE, June 2015
• “Retirement Issues and QDROs”, Loudoun County Bar Association,2015
• “Retirement Issues in Divorce”, 2013
• “Non-traditional Family Structures/Paternity Disputes”, NBI, 2011
• “Retirement and Pension Issues”, NBI, 2007
• “QDROs-Taking a Closer Look”, NBI, 2004
• “Premarital Agreements and Divorce Procedures”, NBI, 2002
• “Child Custody”, NBI, 2002
• “COBRA, QMSCOS AND WHAT IS HIPAA?”
• “Custody Modifications” NBI, 2000

• Nkopchiev v. Minleno
• Citation: 59 VA. App. 299
• Year: 2010

• Alexandria Bar Foundation Beat the Odds, Chair, 2007 - 2008
• Alexandria Bar Association, Pro Bono and Community Service Committee, Co-chair

• Virginia, 1991
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court, 1993

• International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) (Member )
• Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV), Board of Directors , 2006 - Present (President)
• Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV), Board of Directors , 2009 - Present (President)
• Alexandria Bar Association (Past President)
• Virginia State Bar Fee Dispute Program (Panel Chair)