Estate Planning Attorney in Miami: Wills, Trusts, and Probate Avoidance
Attorney Yanitza Schoonover drafts complete estate plans for Miami families including last wills, revocable living trusts, Lady Bird Deeds, and powers of attorney. Every document personally handled. Flat fee pricing for all estate planning services. Bilingual English and Spanish. Florida Bar #124081.
Estate Planning for Miami Families
Miami is one of the most legally complex places in Florida to own property, raise a family, and plan an estate. The city’s mix of retirees, first-generation homeowners, bilingual families, and real estate investors creates estate planning needs that generic documents from other states rarely address correctly.
If you are looking for an estate planning attorney in Miami, FL, you have found an attorney who knows Miami property law, Florida homestead restrictions, Miami-Dade County recording requirements, and the specific probate avoidance tools that protect Miami families most effectively.
Years Experience
Drafting estate plans for Miami-Dade County families in Florida courts.
Core Documents
Will, Revocable Living Trust, POA, Healthcare Surrogate, Living Will, Lady Bird Deed.
Surprise Fees
Flat fee pricing for all estate planning services, confirmed in writing before work begins.
Languages
Full estate planning service in English and Spanish: Hablamos Español.
What Estate Planning Services Does The Schoonover Law Firm Provide in Miami?
A complete Miami estate plan typically includes six documents, each serving a distinct legal purpose. Every document is drafted to comply with Florida execution requirements and Miami-Dade County recording procedures.
| Service | What it does for Miami families |
|---|---|
| Last will and testament | Directs who receives your assets and names a guardian for minor children. Required for court to appoint a guardian when both parents are gone. |
| Revocable living trust | Transfers titled assets to your beneficiaries without Miami probate court. Keeps your family out of the Miami-Dade Circuit Court after you pass. |
| Durable power of attorney | Authorizes a trusted person to manage your finances if you become incapacitated. Prevents the need for a court-appointed guardian of the property. |
| Healthcare surrogate designation | Names who makes medical decisions for you if you cannot speak for yourself. Without one, Florida law picks the decision-maker from a ranked family list. |
| Living will | States your wishes on life-prolonging procedures in writing. Takes the burden of those decisions off your family when it matters most. |
| Lady Bird Deed | Transfers your Miami home to your children at death without probate. Protects Medicaid eligibility and keeps the homestead exemption intact. |
Why Do Miami Families Need an Estate Plan?
Miami families face a specific combination of legal risks that make estate planning more urgent here than in most other parts of the country.
Real Property Without a Plan
Miami homeowners who die without a Lady Bird Deed or funded trust force their families through Miami-Dade probate court before anyone can sell or transfer the home.
Bilingual Families
Florida wills and powers of attorney must meet strict execution requirements. Documents prepared outside Florida or without a Florida attorney often fail those requirements entirely.
Blended Families
Florida's elective share law gives a surviving spouse the right to elect 30% of the estate regardless of what the will says. Without a plan, this can override your intentions entirely.
Retirees and Snowbirds
Non-Florida residents who own Miami property need Florida ancillary probate unless the property is held in a trust or covered by a Lady Bird Deed. Out-of-state estate plans do not prevent this.
Parents of Minor Children
Without a will, a Florida court appoints a guardian for your children. A will lets you choose who raises them and who manages their money until they reach adulthood.
Real Estate Investors
Out-of-state property creates ancillary probate exposure in each state where you own real estate. A properly funded revocable living trust governs all properties in all states through one document.
Lady Bird Deeds for Miami Homeowners
A Lady Bird Deed is one of the most effective estate planning tools available to Miami homeowners and one of the least utilized. Also called an enhanced life estate deed, it transfers your home to your named beneficiaries at death without probate, without giving up any lifetime control, and without affecting your homestead exemption or Save Our Homes assessment cap.
Florida is one of only five states that recognizes Lady Bird Deeds. Every Lady Bird Deed drafted here complies with Florida homestead restrictions and Miami-Dade County recording requirements before the deed is recorded.
Power of Attorney for Miami Residents
A Florida durable power of attorney authorizes a named agent to manage your financial and legal affairs if you become incapacitated. Without one, your family must file for court-supervised guardianship through Miami-Dade Circuit Court, a process that typically costs $3,000 to $5,000 to initiate and takes 60 to 120 days before any protective authority is granted.
Florida Statutes Chapter 709 governs powers of attorney in Florida. The document must be signed before a notary and two witnesses to be legally valid. Every power of attorney is drafted to meet Florida’s execution requirements, covers all 12 categories of agent authority under Section 709.2202, and is confirmed to be accepted by Miami financial institutions, title companies, and government agencies.
- Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2021 through 2026
- 2024 Elite Lawyer Award
- Florida Bar #124081, admitted September 2016
Why Choose The Schoonover Law Firm for Estate Planning in Miami?
Yanitza Schoonover is a Florida Bar licensed estate planning attorney based in Miami with 13 years of Florida estate law experience. She holds Florida Bar number 124081 with active good standing status and drafts every estate planning document for Miami-Dade County families personally, from the initial consultation through trust funding and deed recording.
Miami estate planning requires more than filling in a standard template. Florida homestead restrictions, Miami-Dade County recording requirements, and the specific probate avoidance tools that protect Miami families demand an attorney who knows local law and handles every detail without delegation.
Years in Estate Law
Years Licensed
Consecutive Rising Stars
Weekly Availability
Why Miami Families Choose The Schoonover Law Firm
Estate planning firms in Miami range from solo practitioners to large multi-attorney firms. Most large firms pass your case to someone else after the initial consultation. The Schoonover Law Firm works differently.
Direct Attorney Representation
You work directly with Attorney Schoonover on every document. She handles every question, every revision, and every signing appointment personally.
Flat Fee Pricing for Estate Planning
All estate planning fees are confirmed in writing before work begins. No hourly billing. No surprise invoices. A written quote is provided for all legal services before any work starts.
Bilingual Service in English and Spanish
Attorney Schoonover serves Miami's bilingual families in both languages. Every document and every explanation is fully understood. Hablamos Español.
Extended Availability: 7 Days a Week
In-person meetings are available Monday through Friday before 5:00 PM. Evening and weekend consultations are available by phone or Zoom only, Monday through Sunday, 8 AM to 9 PM.
Deep Miami-Dade County Experience
13 years drafting Lady Bird Deeds, revocable living trusts, and powers of attorney for Miami families, with full knowledge of local recording requirements and homestead rules.
Quote Before Every Engagement
A written quote is confirmed before any legal work begins, for estate planning and all other legal services. You always know the cost before a single document is drafted.
Estate Planning Attorney Serving All of Miami-Dade County
Primary Service Areas
Miami · Doral · Coral Gables · Hialeah · Kendall Miami Beach · Brickell · Coconut Grove · Little Havana Aventura · Homestead · Miami Lakes · Pinecrest
In-Person Appointments
Monday through Friday Before 5:00 PM By appointment only
Phone & Zoom
Monday through Sunday 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Evenings & weekends available
Office: 6303 Waterford District Dr, Suite 400, Miami, FL 33126 · All in-person visits by appointment only
Estate Planning Questions from Miami Families
Common questions Attorney Schoonover receives from Miami-Dade families during initial consultations.
How much does estate planning cost in Miami?
Attorney Schoonover charges flat fees for all estate planning services, confirmed in writing before work begins. A basic will package including a will, durable power of attorney, healthcare surrogate, and living will typically ranges from $800 to $1,500. A complete trust-based estate plan including a revocable living trust, pour-over will, all four supporting documents, and a Lady Bird Deed for your home typically ranges from $3,500 to $8,000. A written quote is provided before any work begins, for estate planning and all other legal services
Do I need a Florida attorney to draft my estate plan if I live in Miami?
Yes. Florida has some of the strictest document execution requirements in the country. Wills, powers of attorney, trusts, and Lady Bird Deeds all require specific witness and notarization procedures under Florida Statutes. A document drafted by an out-of-state attorney or prepared online without meeting Florida’s requirements can be voided entirely in probate court, leaving your family without the protection you intended.
What is probate avoidance and why does it matter for Miami families?
A Florida professional guardian is a person who serves as guardian for 3 or more wards for compensation and must register with the Florida Office of Public and Professional Guardians (OPPG), complete 40 hours of initial training, and maintain 30 hours of continuing education every 2 calendar years under Florida Statutes Section 744.2003 (as amended by ch. 2023-259). Professional guardians undergo background screening, credit checks, and ongoing OPPG oversight. Family members who serve as guardian for a single ward are exempt from professional guardian registration requirements.
Does Attorney Schoonover serve all of Miami-Dade County?
Yes. Attorney Schoonover serves individuals and families throughout Miami-Dade County including Miami, Doral, Coral Gables, Hialeah, Kendall, Miami Beach, Brickell, Aventura, Homestead, and surrounding South Florida communities. In-person appointments are available Monday through Friday before 5:00 PM at 6303 Waterford District Dr, Suite 400, Miami, FL 33126. Evening and weekend consultations are conducted by phone or Zoom only.
Start Your Miami Estate Plan Today
A complete Miami estate plan takes 1 to 4 weeks from consultation to signing. Attorney Schoonover reviews your assets, family structure, and goals in the first call and confirms exactly which documents you need and what they will cost before any work begins.
Attorney Schoonover drafts complete Florida estate plans including last wills, revocable living trusts, durable powers of attorney, healthcare surrogate designations, living wills, and Lady Bird Deeds for individuals and families throughout Miami-Dade County and South Florida.
Start With a Free Consultation
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Email info@estateplanningattorney.us
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Schedule a Free Consultation at estateplanningattorney.us
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In-person meetings by appointment only.
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English and Spanish, Hablamos Español
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Flat fee for estate planning, fee quote provided before any work begins
