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Rafael Joseph Echemendia
About Rafael
Biography
After being born in Winter Haven Hospital is 1966, I have lived in Winter Haven, Lake Alfred, Haines City, Auburndale and Lakeland. I Graduated from Auburndale High School in 1984 and started attending Polk Community College. After graduating from PCC I married Caroline, my high school sweetie, and was promoted from truck loader to Package Delivery Driver at UPS. After having my first child, I realized that I wanted to provide more opportunity for my children so I left UPS and moved into family housing at the University of Florida where I had my second son and obtained my Bachelors Degree. From there, I was accepted into one of the best law schools in the Country so I moved to The Ohio State University. While in Ohio, we learned my wife was pregnant with twins and decided we needed to get closer to family so I applied to Florida State University College of Law and landed an internship monitoring criminal law legislation for the Florida Public Defender Association. We were blessed with twin daughters and I completed my law studies and returned to Ohio for graduation ceremonies where I obtained my Juris Doctorate degree. With the help of four amazing children as inspiration I have been blessed with a loyal client base and solid growth since going into private practice in 2001. I have an "empty nest" now, oldest finished with his bachelor's degree at UCF after a collegiate football career and now the twins are Florida State Cheerleaders! Did I mention I was blessed?
Practice Areas
5
Practice Areas
Car Accident
30%
26 years
Divorce and Separation
30%
26 years
Criminal Defense
20%
28 years
Family
10%
26 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Contingency
33%-33%
Retainer
Sometimes
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Florida for 27 years
State: Florida
Acquired: 1998
No misconduct found
Location
Echemendia Law Firm
5473 US 98 South, Lakeland, FL, 33812
Echemendia Law Firm
201 Main Street, Auburndale, FL, 33823
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Rafael Joseph Echemendia's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 24 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by Renee | July 29, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Wonderful law firm and the best in Florida.
I hired Echemendia Law Firm to help me with my Divorce case. It was going to be hard but Rafael told me in 30 days I would be divorced and as of yesterday 30 days later I’m divorced. They are really knowledgeable and helpful and friendly. I’m so glad that I hired them to take care of me. Angie was gr...
Posted by Amanda | October 20, 2021 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Divorce
Echemendia is an amazing attorney. I won my custody case against the father of my two children. Everything I asked for I walked away with. Him and his staff always communicated with me and were easy to work with I would highly recommend him!
Posted by Ashley | February 2, 2021 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Don't hire him
Worst lawyer ever. Pushed court date back for months. Can't provide clients time in or points. Refuses to provide Discovery or communicate with client.
Posted by anonymous | December 17, 2018 | Consulted Attorney
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
Horrible paralegal
I don’t know anything about this attorney because I never got to speak with him but his paralegal was awful. I called for a consultation and apparently she’s this attorneys gatekeeper and fancies herself an attorney. She told me there’s nothing they could do for me and said “let me guess, they said y...
Posted by Shellie | August 5, 2017 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Would never use a different attorney
Mr. Echemendia is a very skilled and caring attorney. I am very grateful to have had him in our corner. He truly cares about each client and will go to bat for you whatever your situation may be. He didn't just go through the motions he truly worked to resolve our problem. No matter your income he wo...
Rafael Joseph Echemendia's Lawyer Endorsements
"Rafael is an excellent attorney. He is knowledgeable and works hard for his clients."
"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Echemendia provides a much needed service on Avvo. He donates his time to individuals who are in need of immediately legal answers."
"I endorse this lawyer. In previous years, I worked as opposing counsel on many criminal matters with Rafael. He was always been a fearless, yet respectful, advocate for his clients. Now that I work with Rafael, his experience and knowledge of the law is extremely apparent and his dedication to his clients and their legal matters is unparalleled. Rafael understands that preparation and familiarity of a case are necessities and achieves great results for his clients."
"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Echemendia is an experienced lawyer who achieves positive results for his clients. I was opposing counsel to Mr. Echemendia on several occasions. Mr. Echemendia's experience and knowledge helps his clients, as he commands the respect of judges and other lawyers. He was respectfully adversarial on every occasion. That meant he knew how to deal with the parties in a respectful and courteous manner to get the best possible negotiated resolution, but in the event a negotiated resolution wasn't possible, Mr. Echemendia had no hesitation taking the case to trial to benefit his clients. Mr. Echemendia is an excellent legal advocate."
"I endorse this lawyer. Rafael is a very knowledgeable and experienced attorney who truly cares about the clients he represents. He is a skilled trial attorney who will stand up to his opponents. Rafael is very devoted and works tirelessly to get the best possible outcome for his clients. He is well respected in the legal community by fellow attorneys and the judiciary."
"I endorse this lawyer. Rafael is an intelligent, thoughtful attorney who is well respected throughout the Tampa Bay Area legal community. Rafael is willing to do what it takes to get the best outcome for his clients, whether that means going to trial or carefully negotiating a settlement."
"I endorse this lawyer. Rafael Echemendia has the experience to assist his clients on any matter, big or small, due to his years of experience in the local criminal justice system. He treats every client with personal attention and kindness, no matter the circumstances. He and his office staff are very attentive, are accessible to clients, and are quick to return phone calls. He is fair, honest, hardworking, and intelligent. Rafael is adept at balancing his life as a family man and a community lawyer. I would not hesitate to refer a family member or a friend to Rafael."
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Experience
Honors
2016
Top One Percent, National Association of Distinguished Counsel
2015
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers
2014
Nation's Top One Percent, National Association of Distinguished Counsel
N/A
Presidential Recognition, University of Florida
Work Experience
2010 - Present
Owner, Echemendia Law Firm
2000 - 2010
Founding Partner, Allen & Echemendia, P.A.
Associations
2017 - Present
Lawyers of DistinctionMember
Polk County Trial Lawyers Association
Member
Polk County Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
Member
Polk County Bar Association
Member
Lakeland Bar Association
Member
Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Member
2001 - 2003
Berkley Charter SchoolPresident
Sample of Legal Cases
Criminal Defense
Education
1997
Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1994
University of Florida
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2012
Annual Fund Raiser
Legal issues for homeless
Publications
2010
Lakelandlegal.com
Alimony Guide
2010
lakelandlegal.com
Florida Driving Under the Influence
Languages
Spanish
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
Diversion Program
03 Nov 2014
Q&A
If I fail a drug test on Community Control, is there a chance I won't go to prison?
02 Sep 2014
Q&A
Will a one year filing "48a" on a felony drug possession that has been expunged appear on a f.b.i. Background check
15 Mar 2013