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Carolyn Mary Grimes

Divorce and separation Attorney at Alexandria, VA

5.0   4 reviews
  • Licensed for 32 years
    State VA
    Acquired 1991
    Status
    Active No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

About Carolyn

Learn Carolyn’s areas of practice.

I BELIEVE IN A PROBLEM SOLVING APPROACH TO FAMILY LAW CASES.

Carolyn 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.

Consistently named a ‘Best Lawyer’ (from 2014-2022), Ms. Grimes has also been honored as an AV Preeminent (2001-2022) and Gold Client Champion (2019-2021) by Martindale-Hubbell. In addition, she’s been named a Top Lawyer by Northern Virginia Magazine Magazine (2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021), a Top Attorney by Arlington Magazine (2019-2021), and a Top Attorney by Washingtonian Magazine (2015) as well as many other top attorney designations— see full list below. 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.

In addition to traditional settlement and litigation practices, Ms. Grimes also practices in the area of collaborative law. Collaborative law is a process of alternative dispute resolution designed to keep the parties out of court. Counsel who have been trained in the collaborative law process and other professionals, such as financial professionals and custody experts, engage in a series of meetings with the clients designed to develop creative solutions to the issues in a divorce and agree on peaceful, practical solutions. Ms. Grimes has been trained in the collaborative model since 2006 and practices in this model as well as more traditional settlement or litigation models. She is also a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP).

Ms. Grimes is also a mediator and can act as the neutral mediator for both parties. Mediation is also an alternative dispute resolution process designed to have parties agree outside of court proceedings. If you are interested in using Ms. Grimes as a mediator, please contact our office. One party may initiate the contact to set up the appointment but as a mediator, she needs to meet with both parties together for the mediation process.

Awards

Gold Client Champion
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating

Contact Carolyn

Wade, Grimes, Friedman, Meinken, & Leischner PLLC
500 Montgomery St.Suite 575
Alexandria, VA, 22314

Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  4 customer reviews
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Posted by Sreelakshmi | August 9, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Best Lawyer. Period.
Carolyn was quite simply the most effective communicator when handling my family matters. She knew how to efficiently communicate to me, directly communicate to opposing parties, and clearly communicate any potential obstacles - ethical or otherwise. Carolyn's ethical approach to her practice has resulted in a number of positive outcomes For my family, for which I am forever grateful. I would wholeheartedly recommend her for any client.
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Posted by Olivia | February 28, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Best Decision I Made
Carolyn is very responsive and attentive. Because of her experience, my case had the best possible outcome. She's very witty and logical and that's helpful during this stressful situation called divorce. I would not want to wish divorce on anyone, but if you need a lawyer who really understands your situation, has a cool head on her shoulders, and uses humor to help de-escalate the stress, hire her. I would recommend her to any of my friends who need legal advice or who are headed for divorce.
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Posted by Jonathan | February 15, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Hire her!
Carolyn was a great help in resolving my divorce. Responses were always quick and every issue was handled effectively and with efficiency. I would recommend Carolyn without reservation.
Posted by Kim | June 27, 2012
Have recommended to at least 5 friends
I cannot say enough about Carolyn. She was with me through my entire epic divorce which lasted about 9 years through separations, reconciliations and finally, the final divorce. She was always upfront with me about what I was and was not entitled to, if certain issues were worth addressing and the final outcome was better than I ever hoped for. I have recommended her to several friends and their outcomes have been the same.
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Cost

Rates
  • Retainer Sometimes
Payment methods
Cash, Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Managing Member
  • Wade,Grimes, Friedman, Meinken & Leischner, PLLC
  • 2015 - Present
  • Partner
  • Lieblich & Grimes, PC
  • 1992 - 2015

Education

  • Georgetown University Law Center
  • graduate certificate
  • 2000
  • George Mason University School of Law
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 1991
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • BA - Bachelor of Arts
  • 1985

Legal Cases

  • Nkopchieu v. Minlend, 59 Va. App 229 (2011)
  • Trial Court reversed.

Associations

  • Legal Services of Northern Virginia
  • Director, Past President
  • 2004 - Present
  • Collaborative Practice of Northern Virginia
  • Member
  • 2003 - Present
  • Virginia Bar Association
  • Member
  • 1997 - Present
  • Northern Virginia Women's Attorney Association
  • member
  • 1993 - Present
  • Alexandria Bar Association
  • Member
  • 1992 - Present
  • Fairfax Bar Association
  • Member
  • 1992 - Present
  • Virginia State Bar
  • Member
  • 1991 - Present
  • Virginia State Bar
  • Bar Council, Member
  • 2011 - 2017
View all associations

Honors and Awards

  • AV Preeminent
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2022
  • AV Judicial Edition Preeminent
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2022
  • Top Attorney
  • Arlington Magazine
  • 2021
  • Client Champion Silver Award
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2021
  • AV Judicial Edition Preeminent
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2021
  • Client Champion
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2021
  • Top Attorney
  • Arlington Magazine
  • 2020
  • Client Champion
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2020
  • Best Lawyers VA
  • US News & World Report
  • 2019
  • Top Attorney
  • Arlington Magazine
  • 2019
  • Client Champion
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2019
  • Super Lawyers VA
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2019
  • Virginia's Legal Elite
  • Virginia Business Magazine
  • 2019
  • Top Lawyers
  • Washingtonian Magazine
  • 2015
  • Super Lawyers VA
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2015
  • Super Lawyer Virginia
  • Super Lawyers Magazine
  • 2014
  • SuperLawyer- Virginia
  • SuperLawyers
  • 2014
  • Leaders in the Law
  • Virginia Lawyers Weekly
  • 2011
  • SuperLawyers
  • SuperLawyes
  • 2010
  • Superlawyer
  • SuperLawyer
  • 2009
  • SuperLawyer
  • SuperLawyer
  • 2008
  • SuperLawyer
  • Superlawyer
  • 2007
  • Local Bar Leader of the Year
  • Virginia State Bar
  • 2006
  • Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, Alexandria
  • Legal Services of Northern Virginia
  • 2001
View all awards

Publications

  • Aspatore Books, Thompson Reuters
  • Inside the Minds: Strategy for Military Family Law
  • 2014

Speaking Engagements

  • State Bar Conference
  • Updates to Family Law
  • 2015
  • Family Law CLE
  • Retirement Issues
  • 2015
  • Virgina State Bar Fee Dispute Seminar
  • Fee Dispute
  • 2012
  • Annual Family Law
  • Non-Traditional Family Issues
  • 2011
  • Advanced Topics in Family Law
  • Retirement Issues in Family Law
  • 2004
  • Virginia Family Law
  • Child Custody
  • 2000
View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (7)
Given (5)
Endorse Carolyn
Divorce and separation Attorney | Mar 06
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I am happy to endorse this lawyer. Carolyn is smart and experienced, easy to work with and good in court. I've worked with her for over 20 years and she's one of the best."
Family Attorney | Jul 27
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I endorse this lawyer. Carolyn is well versed in the law and zealously represents her clients, but is always willing to sit down and work to resolve a case."
Family Attorney | Jul 15
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I endorse this lawyer."
Family Attorney | Nov 18
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Family Attorney | Nov 13
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I endorse this lawyer."
Child support Attorney | Oct 24
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Family Attorney | Nov 15
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"Carolyn served as the neutral case evaluator in a complex divorce I handled several years ago in Northern Virginia. She was extremely knowledgeable on all the issues involved in our case and was very helpful in bringing the parties to an agreed resolution of their property and support matters. I endorse this lawyer."
View more endorsements