Estate Planning Attorney in Hialeah: Wills, Living Trusts, and Probate Avoidance
Attorney Yanitza Schoonover drafts complete estate plans for Hialeah 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 Attorney Serving Hialeah, Florida
Hialeah is one of the largest cities in Florida and one of the most underserved when it comes to personalized estate planning. With a population of over 237,000 and a homeownership culture built on hard work and family sacrifice, Hialeah families have real assets to protect and real people who depend on them.
If you are looking for a Hialeah estate planning attorney who understands Florida homestead protection, how to avoid probate, and how to protect a family home for the next generation, you have found the right attorney.
Attorney Schoonover serves Hialeah families from her office in Miami, just minutes away, with full estate planning service in both English and Spanish.
Hialeah Population: 237K+
One of the largest cities in Florida, with a strong homeownership culture built across generations.
Core Documents
Will, Revocable Living Trust, Lady Bird Deed, POA, Healthcare Surrogate, Living Will.
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 Hialeah?
A complete Hialeah estate plan typically includes six documents. Every document is drafted to comply with Florida execution requirements and Miami-Dade County recording procedures.
| Service | What It Does for Hialeah Families |
|---|---|
| Last will and testament | Directs who receives your assets after death and names a guardian for minor children. Florida requires 2 witnesses and notarization for a will to be legally valid. |
| Revocable living trust | Transfers your assets to named beneficiaries at death without Florida probate court. The named successor trustee manages the trust immediately without any court appointment. |
| Durable power of attorney | Authorizes a trusted agent to manage your finances if you become incapacitated. Prevents your family from needing court-supervised guardianship through Miami-Dade Circuit Court. |
| 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 list of relatives. |
| Living will | Documents your wishes on life-prolonging procedures in writing. Removes the burden of those decisions from your family at the most difficult moment. |
| Lady Bird Deed | Transfers your Hialeah home to your children at death without probate. Protects Florida Medicaid eligibility and keeps the homestead exemption and Save Our Homes cap intact. |
Lady Bird Deeds for Hialeah Homeowners
Hialeah has one of the highest homeownership rates in Miami-Dade County. Many of those homes represent the most significant asset a family owns, often bought over decades of work and paid off completely by the time a family begins thinking about estate planning.
A Lady Bird Deed, also called an enhanced life estate deed, is the most effective way for a Hialeah homeowner to transfer that home to children or other family members at death without going through Florida probate court. Attorney Schoonover drafts every Lady Bird Deed to comply with Florida homestead restrictions and Miami-Dade County recording requirements before it is recorded with the clerk.
Incapacity Planning: Protecting Your Family Before a Crisis Happens
Incapacity planning is the part of estate planning that protects your family while you are still alive. Most families focus only on what happens after death and miss the documents that protect them when a health crisis strikes without warning.
Durable Power of Attorney
Authorizes your chosen agent to manage your bank accounts, pay your bills, and handle your financial affairs the moment you are incapacitated, without any court involvement.
Healthcare Surrogate Designation
Names the person who speaks for you medically when you cannot. Without this document, a Miami-Dade court or a ranked list of relatives decides who that person is.
Revocable Living Trust with Successor Trustee
The named successor trustee steps in immediately to manage your trust assets upon your incapacity, without a guardianship proceeding, without court costs, and without the 60 to 120-day delay of a Miami-Dade guardianship case.
A family member who needs to manage your affairs must file for guardianship through Miami-Dade Circuit Court. That process takes 60 to 120 days and costs $3,000 to $5,000 to initiate before any protective authority is granted.
Medicaid Planning and Elder Law Planning for Hialeah Seniors
Hialeah has a large senior population, many of whom face the real possibility of needing long-term nursing home care. The 2024 Genworth/CareScout survey reports that Florida nursing home costs average approximately $10,646 per month for a private room. Without advance planning, those costs can consume a lifetime of savings in a matter of years.
Medicaid planning is the legal process of structuring your assets so that you or a family member can qualify for Medicaid long-term care benefits without spending down everything you have worked to build. The Lady Bird Deed plays a direct role here because it transfers the family home at death outside of probate without triggering Medicaid disqualification during the owner’s lifetime.
- 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 Hialeah?
Yanitza Schoonover is a Florida Bar licensed estate planning attorney serving Hialeah families 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 Hialeah and Miami-Dade County families personally, from the initial consultation through trust funding and deed recording.
Hialeah estate planning requires more than filling in a standard template. Florida homestead protection, Miami-Dade County recording requirements, and the specific Lady Bird Deed and probate avoidance tools that protect Hialeah homeowners demand an attorney who knows local law and handles every detail without delegation.
Every estate planning document, every client question, and every signing appointment handled personally by Attorney Schoonover.
Years in Estate Law
Years Licensed
Consecutive Rising Stars
Weekly Availability
Why Hialeah Families Choose The Schoonover Law Firm
There are several estate planning attorneys serving the Hialeah area. Most are multi-attorney firms or general practice offices that handle estate planning as one of many practice areas. The Schoonover Law Firm is different in ways that matter directly to Hialeah families.
Attorney-Led Representation
Attorney Schoonover handles every document, every question, and every signing appointment personally.
Flat Fee Pricing for Estate Planning
All estate planning fees are confirmed in writing before work begins. A written quote is provided for all other legal services before any work starts.
Bilingual Service in English and Spanish
Hialeah is predominantly Spanish-speaking. Attorney Schoonover provides full estate planning service in Spanish. Hablamos Español.
Extended Availability
In-person appointments Monday through Friday before 5:00 PM. Evening and weekend consultations by phone or Zoom only, Monday through Sunday, 8 AM to 9 PM.
Lady Bird Deed Focus
No competing Hialeah estate planning attorney offers a dedicated Lady Bird Deed service. Protecting Hialeah homeowners from unnecessary probate is core to every plan.
Medicaid Planning for Seniors
For Hialeah's senior population, every estate plan accounts for long-term care costs, Medicaid eligibility, and Florida homestead protection before a crisis forces difficult decisions.
Estate Planning Attorney Serving Hialeah and Surrounding Areas
Primary Service Areas
Hialeah · Hialeah Gardens · Miami Lakes Doral · Miami Springs · Westchester Country Club · Palm Springs North
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 Hialeah Families
Common questions Attorney Schoonover receives from Hialeah families during initial consultations.
How do I avoid probate in Florida if I own a home in Hialeah?
There are two primary tools. A revocable living trust holds your titled assets during your lifetime and transfers them to your named beneficiaries at death without any Florida probate court involvement. A Lady Bird Deed transfers your Hialeah home to named beneficiaries at death without probate, while you retain full control during your lifetime. Used together, a funded revocable living trust and a Lady Bird Deed on your home eliminate the need for formal probate administration for most Hialeah families.
What is a successor trustee and why does my family need one?
A successor trustee is the person you name in your revocable living trust who takes over management of the trust assets when you become incapacitated or pass away. Unlike a personal representative in probate, a successor trustee acts immediately and privately without any court appointment or judicial oversight. For Hialeah families with a funded revocable living trust, the successor trustee can access bank accounts, manage property, and distribute assets to beneficiaries without waiting months for court approval.
How much does estate planning cost in Hialeah?
The Schoonover Law Firm 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 designation, 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.
Does The Schoonover Law Firm serve Hialeah families in Spanish?
Yes. Attorney Schoonover provides full estate planning representation in both English and Spanish. Every consultation, every document review, and every signing appointment can be conducted in Spanish for Hialeah families who prefer it. Hablamos Español. Call (305) 299-7496 or email info@estateplanningattorney.us to schedule a free consultation in the language you prefer.
Start Your Hialeah Estate Plan Today
A complete Hialeah 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 Hialeah and Miami-Dade County.
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
