Independent Florida Family Law Advisory · Est. 2004
Clear judgment, before you sign, settle, or spend another retainer.
An independent written read on your active Florida divorce, custody, or high-conflict matter. Flat fee. Never counsel of record.
Miami · Broward · Florida Statewide · EN · ES
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
As seen in
- Forbes
- Telemundo
- Univision
- CBS News
- Law360
- Divorce & Beyond Podcast
- Daily Business Review
The practice
After twenty-two years inside the Florida courthouse system, I closed the litigation side of my practice to build something narrower — independent strategic judgment, retained before consequential decisions are made.
Aliette Hernandez Carolan · Read the full story →
Three common starts
Built for the moment you're in.
Mediation in 30 days?
Independent posture read before you sign anything binding. Rush turnaround in 5 days.
Start a Second Opinion →
Deposition or hearing coming?
Independent strategy memo and prep — separate from, and confidential to, your counsel of record.
Start a Second Opinion →
Spent $30,000 and still don't know where the case is going?
You're not confused. You're under-informed. A written, independent assessment in 30 days tells you exactly where you stand.
Start a Second Opinion →
The primary engagement
The Florida Family Law Second Opinion.
A $750 Strategy Audit, then — if the matter warrants it — a full written second opinion priced by complexity band.
Ongoing strategic advisory
Private Counsel & Presuit Strategy.
02 · Private Counsel
Ongoing independent strategic judgment, retained by the month.
Behind-the-scenes advisory through the life of your matter, without ever appearing in your file.
See Private Counsel →
03 · Presuit Strategy
Resolution before the courthouse.
A flat-fee pre-filing assessment and negotiation strategy for clients who want to act from clarity, not pressure.
See presuit path →
Compare the engagements
Which path fits.
Second Opinion | Presuit Mediation | Presuit Representation | Private Counsel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Anyone in an active Florida case who wants an independent expert read on strategy. | Couples who can talk and want a neutral 2-hour working session. | Spouses ready to negotiate a complete pre-filing resolution with attorney drafting. | Represented or self-represented clients who want ongoing shadow strategy by the month. |
| Format | Written report + 2 video calls | Live 2-hour mediation session | Limited-scope drafting + coaching | Monthly behind-the-scenes retainer |
| Fee | $750 audit · $3,500 / $7,500 / $15,000 / custom from $20,000 | $1,495 per 2-hour session | $4,500–$10,500 flat per matter | $2,995 · $4,995 · $8,995 · bespoke from $15,000 / month |
| Counsel of record | No | No (neutral) | No (you file pro se) | No |
| Court appearances | No | No | No | No |
| Engagement length | 5 business days (audit) · 30 days (full) | Session by session | Typically 90–120 days | Month to month · cancel any time |
| Learn more | Details → | Details → | Details → | Details → |
Still not sure which fits?
Take the 60-second routing quiz.
Six to seven questions. Enter your email at the end to see your recommendation.
The process
From inquiry to clarity, in days.
01
Pick a path
Choose a consultation tier or a Second Opinion intake. Pay a flat fee online.
02
Brief intake
Short questionnaire so we don’t spend the meeting on logistics.
03
We meet
Scheduled video conversation. You bring questions. I bring 22 years of experience and pattern recognition.
04
You decide
Direct answers. Written report. No upsell.
Fit
Who this is for. Who it isn’t.
| A fit | Not a fit |
|---|---|
A fit if: You already have a Florida family law attorney (or are self-represented) and want an independent expert read on the strategy. | Not a fit if: You need an attorney to appear in court on your behalf. I will not. |
A fit if: Your matter sits within the State of Florida and is active or escalating. | Not a fit if: You hope I will eventually take over your case. I do not accept transfers of matters I have reviewed. |
A fit if: You want an expert advisor on a flat-fee retainer you can cancel at any time, behind the scenes, without changing counsel of record. | Not a fit if: You need emergency relief (TROs, injunctions, or ex parte motions). |
A fit if: You are negotiating your own Florida divorce and want strategic shadow support. | Not a fit if: You prefer hourly billing or a traditional open-ended retainer. |
A fit if: You prefer flat-fee, premium advisory over an open hourly clock. | Not a fit if: You are outside Florida with no Florida-based counsel of record. |
Each row pairs a fit criterion on the left with a non-fit criterion on the right; the two sides are independent and do not need to be read together.
Outcomes
Second Opinion 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.
Structural independence
Three rules that define the practice.
- I evaluate. I do not take your case.
- Once retained as Private Counsel, I work behind the scenes — never counsel of record.
- When the matter can be resolved before filing, that is the work.
How the four bands work
Pricing reflects depth of review.
Strategy Audit — $750
A 45-minute private consultation where I listen to your concerns, review your case strategy, examine the public docket, and identify your most critical exposure points. The $750 is credited in full toward your engagement fee if you proceed. If you decide not to move forward, you leave with a clear, independent read on where your case actually stands — from someone with no interest in prolonging it.
Band A
Foundation
$3,500
Pre-filing or early-stage. Organized record. One core strategic question. The only Second Opinion that delivers a written, portable strategic asset for buyers who aren't yet in court — and aren't ready for a monthly counsel relationship.
Band B
Active Case
$7,500
Your case is moving. There's pressure — mediation coming, a settlement offer on the table, or a decision you can't un-make. You have an attorney, but you're not sure if the strategy is the right one. This is where most clients land.
Band C
High-Conflict
$12,500
High stakes. A business, real property, or significant financial assets are in dispute. Multiple issues moving simultaneously. Something in your case feels fundamentally off — not just tactically, but strategically. You need more than a second opinion. You need a full re-read.
Band D
Bespoke
Custom
One discrete issue that doesn't need a full review. Or a multi-front, high-value matter that goes well beyond High-Conflict. Either way, the fee is scoped to fit the problem — quoted in writing after your Strategy Audit.
The $750 intake credits toward whichever band you’re assigned.
Turnaround at a glance
Standard 30 days · Expedited 10 days (+$2,000) · Rush 5 days (+$3,500)
Expedited and Rush add-ons are charged at countersignature and are non-refundable once work begins.
An affiliated service
Don’t need advisory work? Try TheQuickDivorce.
I founded TheQuickDivorce as a streamlined option for uncontested Florida divorces that don’t require strategic advisory work: clear pricing, efficient process, no courtroom.
About
I made the decision in April 2026.
After 22 years inside the courtroom system, I closed the litigation side of my practice and built something I think actually helps people: clear answers, careful strategy, and resolution before the courthouse.
Read more about how I got here →
In their words
What clients say.
These reviews are from prior litigation clients. The second opinion practice opened in 2026.
“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.
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 is an advisory practice. I do not appear in court, do not file motions, and do not handle emergency relief such as TROs, injunctions, or ex parte motions. For matters requiring courtroom representation, retain a Florida litigator of record.
If your situation is urgent
Need a courtroom, an emergency motion, or someone to appear today?
I don’t take that work, but I won’t leave you without a path. If you need emergency relief, a TRO, or trial counsel, contact me and I’ll refer you to a Florida litigator I trust. If you already have a lawyer and the case feels off-track, a Second Opinion is the fastest way to get an independent read.
Begin
$750 Strategy Audit
A 45-minute private review of your matter and the public docket. You leave with a written assessment and a flat-fee quote for the full engagement. The $750 credits in full if you proceed.