Raymond J. Rafool II

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, a Board Certified Attorney in Marital and Family Law, concentrates his practice on domestic and international family law and business and commercial litigation. Mr. Rafool is Board Certified in marital and family law by the Florida Bar, and Nationally Board Certified as an Expert in Family Trial Law by The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA).

Mr. Rafool was named in the Miami Herald’s 2015 – 2018 list of South Florida’s Legal Leaders, Top Rated Lawyers.  He is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and was selected to the 2013-2020 Florida Super Lawyers list which recognizes no more than five percent of attorneys in each state. In addition, Mr. Rafool is rated a Florida Top Lawyer in Family Law by ALM and has a perfect 10 Avvo rating. For 2015-2020, Mr. Rafool is a Top 100 Lawyers, and on the Executive Committee for The National Advocates. He has represented many celebrities and individuals in complex family, same sex, and business litigation and lectures and has authored numerous publications on aforementioned practice areas. Mr. Rafool is a past Vice Chair and member of the Florida Family Law Rules Committee, the past Chair and member of the Florida Criminal Rules Committee, a past Vice Chair and member of the Florida Judicial Administration, Selection and Tenure Committee and a past Representative on the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration Committee.

• 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

• 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

• 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

• AV^® Preeminent^™ – Martindale-Hubbell
• 2013 – 2020 Super Lawyers®, – Thomson Reuters
• 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
• 2017 and 2019, Florida Trend Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine
• 2015 – 2020, “10 Best Attorney” – American Institute of Family Law Attorneys

Family Law Section, Florida Bar

Miami Dade County Bar Association

Publications:

• “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, Round table 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

• “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.
• Co-author of “Know Your Confidential Informant,” The Florida Police Chief, February 1991.

Steering Committee

• Florida Bar, Dissolution Of Marriage, 10^th Edition, Publications
•  Florida Bar, Dissolution Of Marriage, 9^th Edition, Publications
•  Florida Bar, Dissolution Of Marriage, 8^th Edition, Publications