Melissa A. Graham-Hurd

During the course of her 40-year career, Melissa Graham-Hurd has established herself as a staple within the Ohio family law community. At her own firm in the Akron-Canton area, she serves clients in Summit and Stark County, including Green, Coventry, Akron, Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Norton, North Canton, Canton and Jackson Township. Ms. Graham-Hurd dedicates her entire practice to family law matters pertaining to divorce and dissolution; separation, premarital, partnership and parenting agreements; child and spousal support; parenting rights and legal custody for non-parents; grandparent visitation; probate matters including step-parent adoption, name changes of minors, will preparation, and estate administration; and alternative dispute resolution. Ms. Graham-Hurd also devotes a portion of her practice to cases involving marriages, divorces, and planning for same-sex couples.Her zeal for family law reform is demonstrated further through her certification in general and family mediation, and her past service as a guardian ad litem, as well as working on several committees to revise the Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Civil Rules as they relate to Family Law.In her career, Ms. Graham-Hurd has practiced before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States, in addition to her work in all Ohio state courts. Throughout her career, she has taught more than 45 classes and seminars pertaining to all areas of family law. Her knowledge of the subject has even led to membership in the committee that designs and administers the test for lawyers seeking board certification as family law specialists.Ms. Graham-Hurd earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and French from the University of Akron in 1980 and obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of Akron School of Law in 1983. Additionally, she received a certificate in peace studies from the University of Akron's Center for Dispute Resolution in 1980.From 2010 to 2013, Ms. Graham-Hurd served as a member of the Board of Governors for the Ohio State Bar Association, is a Fellow of the Ohio State Bar Foundation and the Akron Bar Foundation, and has chaired committees and sections for the Akron Bar Association and Ohio State Bar Association.  She is also a member of the Stark County and Ohio Women's bar associations.