Raymond J. Rafool, II, a partner at Rafool, LLC, is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, all courts in the state of Florida, the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, and the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Mr. Rafool, Board Certified, by The Florida Bar in Marital and Family Law and certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as an expert in family trial law, concentrates his practice on domestic and international family law. He is AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell, a 2013-2019 Super Lawyer, rated a Florida Top Lawyer in Family Law by ALM, has a perfect 10 rating from Avvo, is named amongst the Top Lawyers by South Florida Legal Guide, a Top 100 Lawyer by The National Advocates, Top One Percent by The National Association of Distinguished Counsel, and Top 100 Lawyer by the American Academy of Lawyers and was named to Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite in 2017 and 2019.
EDUCATION:
Stetson University College of Law, St. Petersburg, Florida
Juris Doctorate Degree, May 1991
Honors and Activities:
Dean’s List; Spring 1990
Honor Roll; Fall 1989, Fall 1991
Vice President, Student Bar Association
Representative, Student Bar Association
Who’s Who Among American Law Students
Member, Advisory Committee on Annual Budget
Chairman, Committee on Revision of Campus Alcohol Policy
Member, Trial Advocacy Society
Commissioner of Intramural Softball
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Bachelor of Arts Degree, History, April 1988
Honors and Activities:
Phi Alpha Theta (Honor Society)
Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity
BOARD CERTIFICATIONS:
Board Certified in Marital and Family Law, Florida Bar
Expert in Family Trial Law by The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA)
PROFESSIONAL AND BAR MEMBERSHIPS:
The Florida Bar
United States of America, Supreme Court, February 20, 2001
Federal District Court, Southern District of Florida, February 13, 2007
Federal District Court, Middle District of Florida, August 20, 1992
Executive Committee Member, The National Advocates.
Chair (2001-2002), Vice Chair (1999-2000, 2000-2001),
Chair Fast-Track Committee (2000-2001),
Secretary (1997-1998, 1998-1999), Subcommittee I
Chair(1998-1999) and Member(1996-2002), Florida
Rules of Criminal Procedure Committee (Florida Bar Committee)
Vice Chair (2002-2003), Member (1998-2004), Florida
Judicial Administration, Selection and Tenure Committee (Florida Bar Committee)
Vice Chair (2004-2005), Subcommittee Chair (2003-2004), Member (2002-2008), Florida
Family Law Rules Of Procedure Committee (Florida Bar Committee)
Representative (2001-2002), Florida Rules of Judicial
Administration (Florida Bar Committee)
Member (current), CLE Committee, Florida Bar Family Law
Section
Treasurer (2003-2004), Secretary (2002-2003), Member (2001-
2004) Polk County Family Lawyer’s Association
Member, (2001-2002), Legislative Committee, Criminal
Section (Florida Bar Committee)
American Bar Association (Former Member)
Polk County Trial Lawyers Association (Former Member)
Polk County Family Lawyers Association/Bar (Former Member)
CLE Chairman(1998-2005), Executive Committee(1997-1998) and Member (1997-2005), Willson American Inn of Court
Who’s Who in American Law
Member (1995-2002), City Of Winter Haven, Florida, Board of Adjustment
Dade County Bar Association
LEGAL RATINGS:
AV® Preeminent™ – Martindale-Hubbell
2013 – 2019 Super Lawyers®, – Thomson Reuters
2017 and 2019, Florida Trend Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine
Rated Lead Counsel – Thomson Reuters
Rated a Florida Top Lawyer in Family Law by ALM
10 Superb – Avvo Rating
Top Lawyers, South Florida Legal Guide
A Top 100 Lawyer, The National Advocates
A Top 10 Family Law Attorney, National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, Inc.
A Top 30 Matrimonial and Family Law Lawyer, The National Advocates
Top One Percent, The National Association Of Distinguished Counsel
2015 – 2019, “10 Best Attorney” – American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
2019 – “Top 100” – American Academy of Attorneys
EMPLOYMENT:
January 2017- Rafool, LLC, Miami, Florida
Present
January 2013- Rafool & Hernandez, LLC, Miami, Florida
December 2016
October 2008- Raymond J. Rafool, LLC, Coral Gables/Miami, Florida
January 2013
October 2006- Barranco & Kircher, P.A., Miami, Florida.
October 2008
January 1998- Rafool & Rafool, P.A., Winter Haven, and
October 2006 Lakeland, Florida.
June 1996- Raymond J. Rafool, Attorney and Counselor at Law,
December 1997 Winter Haven, Florida.
June 1994- ASSOCIATE: Curtis Alexander and Varner,
June 1996 Winter Haven, Florida. Associate in civil and criminal Litigation firm.
February 1993- ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY: Office of the State
June 1994 Attorney, 10th Judicial Circuit, Bartow, Florida.
Felony and Misdemeanor Prosecutor.
May 1991- ASSOCIATE: Gentry and Phillips, P.A., Jacksonville, Florida
February 1993 Associate in civil litigation firm.
LECTURES AND
PUBLICATIONS:
Lectures:
“If I Knew Then What I Know Now” Speaker,
Presented by Women of the NFL and Sports & Entertainment Today,
June 8, 2019
“Florida Family Law Practice for Paralegals”, Speaker,
Presented by HalfMoon Education, Inc., April 17, 2019
“Level Up Conference: For The Love Of Money”, Speaker,
Presented by Healthy and Happy Ever After, March 30, 2019
“Winning Your Case In Closing Arguments”, Speaker,
Presented by American Inns of Court, March 1, 2019
“Florida Family Law Financials Workshop: Discovery and Depositions,” Speaker,
Presented by The University of Miami, February 8, 2018
“Family Law Legal Updates/Celebrity Clients/Ethics and Professionalism,” Panelist, Presented by The Florida Bar, October 20, 2017
“Child Support Law in Florida,” Speaker, Presented by mylawCLE and the Palm Beach Bar Association, May 22, 2017
“Alimony in Florida 101: Types of Alimony, Defenses & Modification,” Speaker Presented by mylawCLE and the Palm Beach Bar Association, April 18, 2017
“Collaborative Law Panel,” American Bar Association, Roundtable Program, 2016
“Alimony and Child Support,” Presented by the Florida Bar – Young Lawyers Division
Basic Family Law 2015, October 30, 2015
“Summary Judgments In Family Law,” American Bar Association, Sound Advice,
Digital Asset Abstract
The 22nd Annual Nuts Bolts of Family Law Seminar, Presented by the Dade County Bar
Association, September 2014 – “Experts” and “Discovery”
“The Potential Family Law Client (Initial Consultation Topics, Retainer Agreements)” Basic Family Law 2012, November 9, 2012
“What Every Plaintiff’s Lawyer Should Know About Criminal Law”, Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, 1997 Winter CLE Ski Seminar, Colorado, December 15, 1997
Publications:
“Top 10 Tips For Celebrity Divorce Or Paternity Action,” American Bar Association,
Section of Litigation, Family Law, Practice Points (March 10, 2016)
“Legal Effects Of Cohabitation”, Adoption, Paternity, And Other Florida Family Practice, Florida Bar practice series/treatise, 2015
“Legal Effects Of Cohabitation”, Adoption, Paternity, And Other Florida Family Practice, Florida Bar practice series/treatise, 2014
“Legal Effects Of Cohabitation”, Adoption, Paternity, And Other Florida Family Practice, Florida Bar practice series/treatise, 2013
“Legal Effects Of Cohabitation”, Adoption, Paternity, And Other Florida Family Practice, Florida Bar practice series/treatise, 2012
“Legal Effects Of Cohabitation”, Adoption, Paternity, And Other Florida Family Practice, Florida Bar practice series/treatise, 2011
“Legal Effects Of Cohabitation”, Adoption, Paternity, And Other Florida Family Practice, Florida Bar practice series/treatise, 2010
“Legal Effects Of Cohabitation”, Adoption, Paternity, And Other Florida Family Practice, Florida Bar practice series/treatise, 2009
“Legal Effects Of Cohabitation”, Adoption, Paternity, And Other Florida Family Practice, Florida Bar practice series/treatise, 2007
“Legal Effects Of Cohabitation”, Adoption, Paternity, And Other Florida Family Practice, Florida Bar practice series/treatise, 2005/2006 – Co-Author with Associate Adam Cowhey, Esquire
“It Must Be Relevant to A Felony Or The Means to Commit a
Crime and Facts in Support Must Be Clearly Stated in
the Supporting Affidavit for A Search Warrant,” Florida
Criminal Law Journal, Vol. 21, No. 2, Summer 1998.
“There is No Better Late Than Never: The Filing Of a
Charging Document Stops The State’s Free Vacuum Of Discovery,” The Florida Defender, Vol. 10, No. 1, Spring 1998.
00433
Co-author of “Know Your Confidential Informant,”
The Florida Police Chief, February 1991.
Steering Committee:
Florida Dissolution Of Marriage, 10th Edition, Florida Bar
Publications
Florida Dissolution Of Marriage, 9th Edition, Florida Bar
Publications
Florida Dissolution Of Marriage, 8th Edition, Florida Bar
Publications
