Independent Florida Family Law Advisory · Est. 2004
Clear judgment, before you sign, settle, or spend another retainer.
Five paths. One door. Flat Fee Family Law guidance, without the courtroom.
One 60-minute private video consultation is the one door to all five engagements: Presuit Negotiation, Presuit Mediation, Private Counsel, Second Opinion, and Prenups & Postnups. We review your situation together and decide which path fits and what it costs.
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
- 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?
An independent read on posture before you sign anything binding. Faster turnaround discussed at the $695 consultation when the date is on calendar.
Book a Consultation →
Deposition or hearing coming?
Independent strategy and prep — separate from, and confidential to, your counsel of record.
Book a Consultation →
Spent $30,000 and still don't know where the case is going?
You're not confused. You're under-informed. One paid consultation puts an independent senior attorney on your matter and decides which of the five paths fits.
Book a Consultation →
The engagements
Five paths. One door.
All five engagements begin with a 60-minute private video consultation — flat fee $695, credited in full toward any retainer signed within 48 hours. 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, no courtroom. Advisory only.
Flat fee $4,500 to $12,500, scoped at your $695 consultation.
02 · Presuit Mediation
Presuit Mediation
I serve as a neutral with both parties together in a 2-hour session — represent neither side. Advisory only.
Flat fee $1,495 per 2-hour session.
03 · Private Counsel
Private Counsel
Behind-the-scenes strategic counsel for as long as you want it. We set your level of attention at the consultation.
Flat monthly fee from $2,500, set at your $695 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.
Flat fee $3,500 to $12,500 by depth of review, Bespoke matters quoted custom, scoped at your $695 consultation.
05 · Prenups & Postnups
Prenups & Postnups
Florida prenuptial agreements (signed before marriage) and postnuptial agreements (signed during marriage) — two distinct vehicles, both drafted or reviewed on a flat fee. Advisory only.
Flat fee from $5,500, scoped at your $695 consultation.
Compare the engagements
Which path fits.
Compare the five engagements
One consultation, five paths.
Every engagement begins with a 60-minute private video consultation — flat fee $695. At the consultation I tell you which engagement fits and what it will cost. The $695 is credited in full toward any retainer signed and paid within 48 hours.
Presuit Negotiation | Presuit Mediation | Private Counsel | Second Opinion | Prenups & Postnups | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | $4,500 to $12,500 | $1,495 / 2 hours | From $2,500/mo | $3,500 to $12,500 (Bespoke custom) | From $5,500 |
| Counsel of record / role | Represents one party | Neutral — represents neither | Behind-the-scenes — never counsel of record | Independent reviewer — never counsel of record | Drafting / review — advisory only |
| Court appearances | No | No | No | No | No |
| Learn more | Details → | Details → | Details → | Details → | Details → |
Document preparation, where pleadings are required for Presuit Negotiation or Private Counsel, is a flat $1,500 in addition to the engagement fee. 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.
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.
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 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 advisory 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.
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 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.
Begin
A 60-minute private video consultation.
Flat fee $695. We review your situation directly and I tell you which engagement fits and what it will cost. The $695 is credited in full toward any retainer signed and paid within 48 hours of the consultation.