Dalma C. Grandjean

Attorney

Dalma approaches each client as unique and views the attorney-client relationship as a partnership.

Dalma has dedicated most of her career to family law and has developed a unique niche in military divorce. This includes extensive experience in military, international and interstate divorce, custody, litigation and appeals, and governmental regulations including:

  • The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)

  • The Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act

  • The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)

  • Military and VA Disability Benefits and Retirement Plans

  • Federal Employees and Civil Service Retirement Systems (FERS) (CSRS)

  • State Teachers and Public Employees Retirement Systems (STRS) (PERS)

  • Thrift Savings Plan

  • Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund (OP&F)

  • Private Pensions and Qualified Domestic Relations Orders

  • The Hague Convention on Service Abroad and Child Abduction

Trained in collaborative divorce techniques, Dalma negotiates or mediates divorces/dissolutions, high-conflict, high-asset divorces, and matters arising out of support, custody, grandparent rights, visitation, domestic violence, and child abduction.  

From the traditional nuclear family to LGBTQ families, co-habitating couples, and unmarried individuals, Dalma represents all structures of family. She also assists those seeking to establish parentage through the juvenile court system, as well as those seeking to adopt or oppose the adoption of a child. This experience allows Dalma to also provide counsel in related areas such as estate planning, probate, will contests, powers of attorney, guardianships, immigration, and fiance’ visas and the I-864 affidavit.

Serving as law director to the City of Riverside and, formerly to Oakwood, Dalma completely understands municipal law. She has advised city officials on legal issues, drafted legislation, oversaw the function of city prosecutors, and has handled the complexities faced by municipalities involving land use and zoning, real estate and transactional matters, as well as employment.

When Skill Matters

  • Represents clients in interstate cases as well as international cases where one or both spouses are located outside the U.S., often including abduction and custody matters
  • Drafts and negotiates prenuptial agreements and co-habitating agreements
  • Assists clients in matters related to contempt of court, collection of support and alimony, modification of support and alimony, pensions and retirement benefits, and other enforcement matters

Articles + Presentations

  • Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act (February 2019)
  • Valuing and Dividing Retirement Assets in Divorce (Presenter, Family Law from Start to Finish (NBI), October 2018)
  • What Domestic Relations Practitioners Need to Know (Presenter, Cincinnati Bar Association, September 2017)
  • Overview of Military Divorce Law (Presenter, Dayton Bar Association, April 2017; Greene County Bar Association, December 2015)
  • LGBT Families and Law (Presenter, LGBT Expo, August 2016)
  • Immigration Form I-864 Affidavit in Support (Presenter, Annual Family Law Seminar, April 2016)

Distinctions + Awards

  • Top 25 Women Lawyers in Cincinnati (Super Lawyers)
  • Top-Rated Family Law Attorney (Super Lawyers)
  • Ohio Super Lawyers
  • BV-Distinguished Rated (Martindale-Hubbell)

Civic Involvement

  • Miami Valley Fair Housing Center – Cooperating Attorney
  • Ohio Domestic Violence Network – Panel Attorney
  • Sinclair Paralegal Advisory Board

Professional Affiliations

  • Dayton Bar Association – Family Law Committee, Former Chair; Fee Arbitration Committee; Diversity Committee; Volunteer Lawyer Program
  • Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association
  • Ohio State Bar Foundation – Fellow
  • Family Law Forum – Former President
  • Miami Valley Trial Lawyers Association
  • Ohio State Bar Association – Council of Delegates District Representative; Family Law Committee
  • American Bar Association – State and Local Government Law Section; Family Law Committee; International Litigation Committee
  • International Municipal Lawyers Association

Related Practices

  • Domestic Relations
  • Estates, Trusts + Probate
  • Public Sector + Municipal Law

Education

  • University of Dayton School of Law, JD summa cum laude

  • University of Dayton, BA cum laude

Admissions

  • Ohio

  • U.S. Court of Appeals – Federal Circuit

  • U.S. Court of Appeals – Sixth Circuit

  • U.S. District Court – Southern District of Ohio

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