Miami Gardens Estate Planning Attorney, Wills, Living Trusts, and Probate Avoidance
Attorney Yanitza Schoonover drafts complete estate plans for Miami Gardens families. Flat fee pricing for estate planning. Lady Bird Deeds for multigenerational homeowners. Every document personally handled. Bilingual English and Spanish. Florida Bar #124081.
Estate Planning Attorney Serving Miami Gardens, Florida
Miami Gardens is one of the largest cities in Miami-Dade County and home to one of the most established African-American and Caribbean-American communities in South Florida. Generations of families here have built homes, raised children, and grown small businesses, which means there are real assets and real people who depend on a proper estate plan being in place.
Attorney Yanitza Schoonover serves Miami Gardens families from her office on Waterford District Drive in Miami, a short drive from Miami Gardens. She provides full estate planning service in both English and Spanish, drafts every document personally, and charges flat fees for all estate planning services confirmed in writing before any work begins.
Miami Gardens families have a multigenerational homeownership tradition that deserves more than a generic template. The Lady Bird Deed, flat fee pricing, and direct attorney access are the three things no competing firm serving Miami Gardens currently offers together.
Multigenerational Homeownership
Miami Gardens has one of the strongest multigenerational homeownership traditions in Miami-Dade County. Without a Lady Bird Deed, that home goes through probate before any family member can touch it.
Core Documents
Last will, revocable living trust, Lady Bird Deed, durable power of attorney, healthcare surrogate designation, living will.
Surprise Fees
Flat fee pricing for all estate planning services. Written quote for all other legal services before any work starts.
Languages
Full estate planning service in English and Spanish, Hablamos Español.
Estate Planning That Protects What Miami Gardens Families Have Built
Miami Gardens families have built real wealth across generations. A proper estate plan protects each of these specifically.
The Family Home
Many Miami Gardens families have owned the same home for decades with the hope of passing it to the next generation. A Lady Bird Deed transfers that home at death without probate, without court delay, and without cost to your family.
Children and Grandchildren
A will names a guardian for minor children and determines who inherits. A funded revocable living trust puts a trusted person in charge immediately without requiring anyone to go to court.
Small Businesses
For Miami Gardens small business owners, a successor trustee designation inside a revocable living trust ensures someone trusted steps in to manage business affairs the moment you cannot, without a court proceeding.
What Estate Planning Services Does The Schoonover Law Firm Provide in Miami Gardens?
A complete Miami Gardens estate plan typically includes six legal documents. Every document is drafted to comply with Florida estate law and Miami-Dade County recording procedures.
| Service | What It Does for Miami Gardens 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 handles trust administration immediately, without court oversight. |
| Durable power of attorney | Names a trusted agent to manage your finances if you become incapacitated. Supports guardianship avoidance by preventing the need for a court-supervised guardianship proceeding. |
| Designation of Healthcare Surrogate | Names who makes medical decisions for you if you cannot speak for yourself. Without one, Florida law assigns that role from a ranked list of relatives. |
| Living will | States your wishes on life-prolonging procedures in writing. Removes the burden of that decision from your family at the most difficult moment. |
| Lady Bird Deed | Transfers your Miami Gardens home to your beneficiaries at death without probate. This enhanced life estate deed preserves Florida homestead protection and Medicaid eligibility while you keep full lifetime control. |
Lady Bird Deeds for Miami Gardens Homeowners
Miami Gardens has one of the strongest multigenerational homeownership traditions in Miami-Dade County. Many families have owned the same home for decades, often passed down with the hope that it stays in the family. Without a plan, that home must pass through Florida probate court before any family member can sell it, refinance it, or transfer it.
A Lady Bird Deed, also called an enhanced life estate deed, transfers your Miami Gardens home to your named beneficiaries at death without any probate proceeding. You retain complete ownership and control during your lifetime, and you can sell, refinance, or revoke the deed at any time without your beneficiaries’ consent.
The deed does not trigger Medicaid disqualification under federal rules and preserves Florida homestead protection along with the Save Our Homes assessment cap through the transfer. Neither of the established estate planning firms currently serving Miami Gardens offers a dedicated Lady Bird Deed service.
Incapacity Planning: Protecting Your Family Before a Crisis
Estate planning is not only about what happens after death. Incapacity planning protects you and your family while you are still alive but unable to manage your own affairs. Many Miami Gardens families focus entirely on the will and overlook the documents that matter most during a sudden health crisis.
Durable Power of Attorney
Authorizes your chosen agent to manage your bank accounts, property, and financial affairs immediately upon your incapacity, with no court involvement required.
Designation of Healthcare Surrogate
Names the person who makes medical decisions for you when you cannot. Without this document, Florida law or a Miami-Dade court decides who that person is.
Revocable Living Trust with Successor Trustee
Your named successor trustee takes over trust administration the moment you are incapacitated, managing property and finances privately and immediately, supporting guardianship avoidance and skipping the 60 to 120-day delay and $3,000 to $5,000 cost of a Miami-Dade guardianship proceeding.
A successor trustee is simply the person you trust enough to step in and manage everything the moment you need them to, without ever setting foot in a courtroom. For a family home that has been passed down for generations, naming the right successor trustee is one of the most important decisions in the entire estate plan.
A family member who needs to manage your affairs must file for guardianship through Miami-Dade Circuit Court, a process that 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 Miami Gardens Seniors
Miami Gardens has a substantial senior population, including many longtime residents who have owned their homes for decades. Long-term nursing home care in Florida costs approximately $10,646 per month for a private room, according to the 2024 Genworth/CareScout survey. A two-year stay at that rate can consume well over $250,000 in savings.
Medicaid planning is the legal process of structuring your assets so you or a family member can qualify for Medicaid long-term care benefits without first spending down everything you have built. The Lady Bird Deed plays a direct role in elder law planning for Miami Gardens homeowners because it transfers the family home at death outside of probate without triggering a disqualifying transfer under Medicaid rules during the owner’s lifetime.
Attorney Schoonover incorporates Medicaid planning and elder law considerations into every estate plan she drafts for Miami Gardens seniors, addressing Florida homestead protection, asset structuring, and long-term care costs well before a health crisis forces a rushed decision.
- 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 Gardens?
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 Gardens families personally, from the initial consultation through trust funding and deed recording.
Miami Gardens estate planning requires more than a generic will. Multigenerational homeownership, Florida homestead restrictions on how a family home can be passed down, and the specific Lady Bird Deed and probate avoidance tools that protect Miami Gardens families demand an attorney who understands this community, handles every document without delegation, and charges flat fees rather than billing by the hour for complexity.
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 Miami Gardens Families Choose The Schoonover Law Firm
Many of the firms advertising estate planning services to Miami Gardens residents are not based in Miami Gardens or even Miami-Dade County, and some treat estate planning as a secondary service behind litigation work. The Schoonover Law Firm is based in Miami, close to Miami Gardens, and focuses specifically on estate planning for families who want a clear plan without unnecessary complexity.
Direct Attorney Representation
Attorney Schoonover handles every document, every consultation, and every signing appointment personally.
Flat Fee Pricing for Estate Planning
All estate planning fees confirmed in writing before work begins. Written quote for all other legal services before any work starts.
Bilingual Service in English and Spanish
Full estate planning service in both languages for Miami Gardens families who prefer it. Hablamos Español.
Extended Availability
In-person Mon–Fri before 5 PM. Evening and weekend consultations by phone or Zoom only, Mon–Sun 8 AM to 9 PM.
Lady Bird Deed Focus
No competing Miami Gardens estate planning firm offers a dedicated Lady Bird Deed service for homeowners protecting a family home.
Medicaid Planning for Seniors
Every senior estate plan accounts for long-term care costs, Medicaid eligibility, and Florida homestead protection from the start.
Estate Planning Attorney Serving Miami Gardens and Surrounding Communities
Primary Service Areas
Miami Gardens · Carol City · Opa-locka North Miami Beach · Miramar · Hialeah Miami Lakes · North Miami · Opa Locka
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 · Minutes from Miami Gardens · All in-person visits by appointment only
Estate Planning Questions from Miami Gardens Families
Common questions Attorney Schoonover receives from Miami Gardens families during initial consultations.
How do I avoid probate in Florida if I own a home in Miami Gardens?
There are two tools that work well together. 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 Miami Gardens 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 property eliminate the need for formal probate administration for most Miami Gardens 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 trust administration when you become incapacitated or pass away. Unlike a personal representative in Florida probate, a successor trustee acts immediately and privately without any court appointment. For Miami Gardens families with a funded revocable living trust, the successor trustee can manage the family home, pay bills, and distribute assets to beneficiaries without waiting months for court approval, which directly supports guardianship avoidance.
What happens during an estate planning consultation in Miami Gardens?
Attorney Schoonover reviews your assets, family structure, and goals during a free initial estate planning consultation. She explains which documents fit your specific situation, whether that includes a last will and testament, a revocable living trust, a Lady Bird Deed for your home, or a combination of advance healthcare directives. A flat fee quote is provided in writing before any work begins, so you know exactly what your estate plan will cost from the start.
Does The Schoonover Law Firm serve Miami Gardens 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 Miami Gardens 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 Miami Gardens Estate Plan Today
A complete Miami Gardens 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 for Miami Gardens families including last wills, revocable living trusts, Lady Bird Deeds, durable powers of attorney, designations of healthcare surrogate, and living wills.
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
