Florida · Online practice · English & SpanishI encourage presuit settlement. Court when needed.

Florida Family Law Attorney · Est. 2004

Clear judgment, before you sign, settle, or spend another retainer.

Presuit first. Court when it is needed.

I help Florida families resolve divorce and custody disputes through negotiation and mediation. When court is necessary, I handle trials, modifications, enforcement and appeals. A consultation is the first step.

Miami · Broward · Florida Statewide · EN · ES

Aliette Hernandez Carolan, Florida family law attorney, at her desk.

Practice credentials

  • Award-winning Complex Marital & Family Litigator (2004–2026)
  • Published book author — Just In Case! Lose Your Heart, Not Your Mind
  • Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator (c. 2009)
  • Internationally recognized family law news commentator
  • Forbes Legal Advisory Board Member 2024

As seen in

Forbes
  • Telemundo
  • Univision
  • CBS News
  • Law360
  • Divorce & Beyond Podcast
  • Daily Business Review
Presuit first. Court when it is needed. Second-opinion reviews remain independent.

An affiliated service

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The practice

Twenty-two years inside the Florida courthouse system taught me that most families are better served when the case is resolved before it is filed. I push hard for that outcome, and I litigate when it is the only path left.

Aliette Hernandez Carolan · Read the full story →

The engagements

Five paths. One door.

All five engagements begin with a phone consultation — the fee is quoted after the consultation. The consultation is where we decide which engagement fits and what it will cost.

01 · Presuit Negotiation

Presuit Negotiation

I represent one party in a pre-filing negotiation against the other side. Your advocate at the table. Court representation is available under a separate engagement when needed.

Fee scoped at your consultation.

02 · Online Mediation

Online Mediation

I serve as a neutral with both parties together in a session of at least two hours. I represent neither side in mediation.

Scoped at your consultation.

03 · Private Counsel

Private Counsel

Ongoing strategic counsel tailored to your case. We set the scope at the consultation. Court representation, if needed, is agreed separately.

Monthly fee scoped at your consultation. Billed monthly, cancel anytime with 30 days notice.

04 · Second Opinion

Second Opinion

An independent expert read on your active Florida family law matter. Written analysis of the current status of your case and clear recommendations for progressing toward resolution. I never take over your case. Keep your lawyer and get an independent written review before you sign, settle, or switch. Florida family law second opinion (written case review) explains what the review covers.

Fee scoped at your consultation.

05 · Prenups & Postnups

Prenups & Postnups

Florida prenuptial agreements signed before marriage and postnuptial agreements signed during marriage. Drafting and review tailored to your needs.

Fee scoped at your consultation.

New · Online Mediation

Online Mediation

Resolve your divorce, custody, or family law dispute by secure video with a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator. No travel.

Compare the engagements

Which path fits.

Compare the five engagements

One consultation, five paths.

Every engagement begins with a phone call to 305.358.2330. We discuss which path fits your situation, and any fee is quoted only after that call.

Comparison of the five Carolan Family Law Firm engagements, in order: Presuit Negotiation, Online Mediation, Private Counsel, Second Opinion, and Prenups & Postnups.

Presuit Negotiation

Online Mediation

Private Counsel

Second Opinion

Prenups & Postnups

Counsel of record / roleRepresents one partyNeutral — represents neitherBehind-the-scenes; court representation by separate agreementIndependent reviewer — never counsel of recordAgreement drafting and review
Court appearancesSeparate agreement if neededNeutral, no representationSeparate agreement if neededNo, independent reviewSeparate agreement if needed
Learn moreDetails →Details →Details →Details →Details →

Document preparation, where pleadings are required for Presuit Negotiation or Private Counsel, is quoted separately at your free phone consultation. Court filing fees are set by and paid directly to the Clerk of Court.

Recent matters

Outcomes.

Anonymized engagement summaries. The Florida Bar restricts what attorneys may publish about prior results — these reflect individual matters and do not predict the outcome of any future case.

Miami-Dade · Pre-filing strategy · Band A

Organized pre-filing record reviewed against one core strategic question. Client received a portable written read before any petition was drafted — and used it to set the posture of the case from day one.

Miami-Dade · Custody · Band B

Identified three procedural issues counsel had not raised. Client used the written report at mediation; matter resolved within 60 days.

Palm Beach · High-asset divorce · Band C

Pressure-tested an incoming settlement offer. Client renegotiated equitable distribution before signing.

Broward · Post-judgment modification · Band B

Independent strategic read on relocation posture. Client proceeded to mediation with a written second-opinion report in hand.

Miami-Dade · Strategy risk intensive · Band D

Full attorney's re-read of a 400+ entry docket spanning multi-front motion practice, business valuation, and contested parenting. Written report flagged exposure points and sequencing the prior strategy had not surfaced.

How I practice

Three rules that define the practice.

  • A second-opinion review stays independent. I do not take over the case I reviewed.
  • Private Counsel provides strategic guidance. Court representation is agreed separately when needed.
  • When the matter can be resolved before filing, that is the work.

About

Resolution first. Representation when it matters.

Twenty-two years inside the Florida courthouse system taught me that most families are better served when the case is resolved before it is filed. I push hard for that outcome, and I litigate when it is the only path left.

Read more about how I got here →
Aliette Hernandez Carolan

In their words

What clients say.

Clients describe their individual experiences with the firm.

★★★★★

“Aliette gave me a clear, written read on my case in under a month. No upsell, no pressure to switch lawyers — just an honest assessment of the strategy I was already paying for. It changed how I approached mediation.”

Carmen R.

Second Opinion client · Miami-Dade

★★★★★

“I cannot recommend Aliette enough. She helped me through my divorce a few years ago with such professionalism, kindness, and compassion. We were able to amicably mediate the process without ever going to court, which made a difficult time much easier to manage. Beyond her legal expertise, she is incredibly personable and heartfelt — never the cold, detached type of attorney you might expect. She truly cared about my situation and guided me with both skill and empathy. I recommend her to anyone who is looking for an attorney who not only gets results but also genuinely supports her clients.”

Cecie Mestre

Google Review · Divorce client

★★★★★

“Hiring Carolan Family Law Firm, P.A. is the best decision I've ever been able to make. Aliette is an example in professionalism. You can trust her and all the staff who work with her knowing that they will do the best for you in your divorce case. I have no doubt in recommending this firm to anyone who needs to hire a lawyer for their divorce case. It is a very efficient firm and they work very quickly — my case was solved in a short time. Thank you so much, Aliette, for everything you did in my case.”

Helene Kappler

Google Review · Divorce client

Reviews are reproduced from public Google Reviews with the reviewer’s posted name. The Florida Bar restricts what attorneys may publish about prior results. Testimonials shown reflect individual experiences and do not guarantee or predict the outcome of any future matter.

Before you book

Questions people ask first.

Every engagement begins with a phone consultation. We review your situation directly and I tell you which engagement fits and what it will cost. Fees are quoted after the consultation.

Five paths, in order: Presuit Negotiation (I represent one party in a pre-filing negotiation against the other side — fee scoped at your consultation), Online Mediation (I serve as a neutral with both parties together — scoped at your consultation), Private Counsel (behind-the-scenes monthly strategic counsel — Monthly fee scoped at your consultation, billed monthly, cancel anytime with 30 days' notice), Second Opinion (an independent written analysis of your active Florida case — fee scoped at your consultation), and Prenups & Postnups (Florida prenuptial and postnuptial agreements drafted or reviewed for a fee scoped at your consultation).

The role of the attorney. In Presuit Negotiation I represent one party in a pre-filing negotiation against the other side. In Online Mediation I am a neutral and represent neither party. Both spouses work with me together in a 2-hour session. Different services, different ethical roles.

No. I do not accept case transfers from clients I have provided second-opinion services to. I do not take your case. That structural independence is what makes the read worth getting. If your matter needs a Florida litigator of record, I will refer you to one I trust.

Yes. I work to resolve your case before anything is filed. If it has to go to court, I take it there: divorce and custody trials, modifications, enforcement and appeals. Court representation is agreed separately. I do not handle emergency relief such as TROs, injunctions or ex parte motions.

Statewide. The practice is fully online with a primary geographic focus on Miami-Dade and Broward, with statewide online practice for Florida clients across the rest of Florida. Aliette Hernandez Carolan is licensed to practice law in Florida only.

Read the full FAQ →

Keep reading: Library · Insights

The information on this site is for general educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Carolan Family Law Firm, PA offers Florida family law representation, including trials, modifications, enforcement and appeals. I do not handle emergency relief such as TROs, injunctions or ex parte motions.

Begin

A phone consultation.

Every engagement begins with a phone consultation. We review your situation directly and I tell you which engagement fits. Fees are scoped at your consultation.