A system and method for transferring related data objects in a distributed data storage environment allows for data objects belonging to a common group to be transferred while preserving the grouping of the data objects. The data objects can be transferred in an order in which the data objects are stored, rather than in an order of grouping. The data objects are accompanied with attribute information including a unique group identifier when transferred from a source site to a target site. At the target site, the attribute information for each data object is received and analyzed. An import groups table listing the groups of data objects is used to associate each data object with its group as it is received. Data objects of groups for which any members have not been received are also listed in an unresolved objects table. When a group is complete, all data objects of the group are removed from the unresolved objects table. At the end of a data transfer session, all data objects still listed in the unresolved objects table are deleted.