Estate Planning Attorney in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida: Wills, Trusts
Attorney Yanitza Schoonover drafts complete estate plans for Sunny Isles Beach condo owners and international families. Flat fee pricing confirmed in writing. Florida Lady Bird Deeds for high-value condos. Every document personally handled and explained in plain English, Spanish, or Russian, never legal jargon. Florida Bar #124081.
Estate Planning Attorney Serving Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
Sunny Isles Beach sits on a narrow barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway in northeast Miami-Dade County. It’s home to some of the most valuable real estate in Florida; luxury high-rise condos along Collins Avenue and to one of the most internationally diverse communities in South Florida. Russian-speaking families, Latin American residents, seasonal homeowners, and foreign nationals who own property here all face estate planning situations that most general-purpose law firms haven’t thought through carefully.
That diversity is exactly why a generic estate plan or no plan at all, so often fails Sunny Isles Beach families:
- You own a condo governed by HOA rules that affect how the unit transfers at death
- You or your spouse are not U.S. citizens, which changes how certain estate plans must be structured to avoid federal estate tax problems
- You own property in another country and need a Florida plan that works alongside it
- You’re a seasonal resident whose permanent legal address may be in another state or country
- Your family communicates primarily in Russian, Spanish, or another language, and you want an attorney who ensures nothing gets lost in translation
What Does an Estate Plan Actually Include?
A complete estate plan usually comes down to six documents. Here’s what each one actually does, in plain terms.
| Service | What It Actually Does for You |
|---|---|
| Last will and testament | Says who gets your things after you die, and who takes care of your kids if they're still minors. Florida requires 2 witnesses and a notary. Without one, Florida law decides for you and it may not decide the way you would have. |
| Revocable living trust | Holds your assets while you're alive and passes them to the people you choose, without going through probate court at all. Especially valuable in Sunny Isles Beach where high condo values make the 3% probate fee a serious number. |
| Durable power of attorney | Lets someone you trust step in and manage your money and property if you become too sick or injured to do it yourself, without a judge having to appoint them. |
| Healthcare surrogate designation | Names the person who makes medical decisions for you if you can't speak for yourself. Without it, Florida law picks someone from a ranked list of relatives, whether or not that's who you'd actually want. |
| Living will | Puts your wishes about life support and end-of-life care in writing, so your family never has to guess or argue about what you would have wanted. |
| Lady Bird Deed | A simple, low-cost way to pass your Sunny Isles Beach condo directly to your beneficiaries at death; no probate, no court. You keep full control of the unit while you're alive. Subject to HOA governing document review before drafting. |
Will Attorney vs. Living Trust Attorney: Two Different Outcomes for Your Family
When Sunny Isles Beach residents search for an “estate planning attorney,” they usually have one of two things in mind: a will or a trust. Many attorneys offer both but rarely explain the difference in plain terms. Here’s what actually matters.
A will tells the court what you want. A trust does it without the court.
A last will and testament is a legal document that says who gets your property after you die. But and this is what most people don't realize, a will does not avoid probate. It goes through probate. The court reads it, supervises the process, and signs off on every step. In Miami-Dade County, that process typically takes six months to a year and costs roughly 3% of the estate in attorney fees under Florida's statutory fee schedule.
A revocable living trust does something different. It holds your assets during your lifetime and passes them directly to your beneficiaries after your death, without any court involvement at all. No probate filing. No judge. No 3% fee. Your successor trustee (a person you appoint in advance) steps in immediately and distributes assets privately, on your timeline, not the court's.
Which one is right for a Sunny Isles Beach condo owner?
For most Sunny Isles Beach families, a trust-based plan makes more sense than a will alone, because the math is hard to ignore. If your condo is worth $600,000, the difference between a will (which requires probate) and a trust (which doesn't) is roughly $18,000 in court-supervised attorney fees. A trust costs more to set up than a simple will, but for a high-value asset like a Sunny Isles Beach condo, it almost always costs less in the long run.
A will still has a place in a complete plan, most trust-based plans also include a simple "pour-over" will to capture anything not already titled in the trust's name. But if you're searching for an estate planning attorney in Sunny Isles Beach and probate avoidance is a priority, a living trust is the tool to ask about.
What Is a Lady Bird Deed, and Why Does It Matter for Condo Owners Here?
If you own a condo in Sunny Isles Beach, the Lady Bird Deed is probably the single most useful estate planning tool you’ve never heard of. It lets you pass your unit directly to whoever you choose the moment you die; no probate court, no waiting months, no attorney fees eating into what your family inherits.
Here’s what makes it different from a normal deed: you keep every right to the property while you’re alive. You can sell it, take out a loan against it, or change the beneficiary entirely, all without asking anyone’s permission, including the people set to inherit it. They have no legal claim to the condo until you pass away.
A properly drafted Lady Bird Deed also protects things Florida property owners already rely on: your homestead tax exemption (if applicable), the Save Our Homes cap that limits how much your assessed value can rise each year, and your Medicaid eligibility if long-term care ever becomes a concern down the road.
The condo HOA question and why it matters here
Condos in Sunny Isles Beach are governed by HOA documents; declarations, bylaws, and sometimes transfer restrictions, that can affect how a Lady Bird Deed is recorded and accepted. Before drafting the deed, Attorney Schoonover reviews your HOA’s governing documents to confirm the transfer will go through without complications. This is a step most template-style firms skip entirely.
Non-U.S. citizens and the Lady Bird Deed
If you or your spouse are not U.S. citizens, a Lady Bird Deed is still available to you for transferring Florida property. However, for married couples where one spouse is a non-citizen, federal estate tax rules that don’t apply to U.S. citizen spouses may create a significant tax issue at death. Attorney Schoonover addresses this directly when reviewing your situation, it’s not a reason to avoid a Lady Bird Deed, but it does need to be planned around.
What Happens If You Can't Speak for Yourself?
Most people think about estate planning as “what happens when I die.” Just as important is what happens if you’re still alive but can’t manage your own affairs: a stroke, an accident, or advancing age can all put a family in that position with no warning. For seasonal residents and international families with ties in multiple countries, this is even more urgent: if something happens to you in Florida and no documents are in place, your family may face serious obstacles getting access to your Florida condo or bank accounts.
Durable Power of Attorney
Lets your chosen agent manage your bank accounts, your condo, and other Florida property the moment you need them to, with no judge involved. Without it, your family has to petition Miami-Dade Circuit Court for guardianship, a process that typically takes 60 to 120 days and costs $3,000 to $5,000 before anyone has legal authority to help you.
Healthcare Surrogate Designation
Names who makes medical decisions for you if you can't speak for yourself. Without it, Florida law picks from a ranked list of relatives, whether or not that's the person you'd want in that role. For families where close relatives live in another country, this document is especially important.
Revocable Living Trust
Your chosen successor trustee can step in and manage everything inside the trust immediately and privately, with no court filing at all, including your Sunny Isles Beach condo if it's been transferred into the trust. For international families, a funded trust is often the most reliable way to ensure a trusted person in Florida can manage your assets without involving foreign courts.
- 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 Sunny Isles Beach?
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 Sunny Isles Beach families personally, from the initial consultation through trust funding and deed recording.
Sunny Isles Beach estate planning requires more than filling in a standard template. HOA transfer restrictions on condos, the international profile of many residents, non-citizen spouse estate tax issues, and the specific probate avoidance tools that protect high-value condo owners demand an attorney who knows the details and explains them in plain language.
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 Sunny Isles Beach Families Choose This Firm
Every result currently showing up for Sunny Isles Beach estate planning searches has a significant problem. Loughlin Law, P.A. has a Sunny Isles Beach page, but it covers only wills. Their page has no mention of trusts, Lady Bird Deeds, healthcare surrogates, or Medicaid planning. It’s a Boca Raton firm running a wills-only template across hundreds of Florida cities with no local specifics. Jose Lorenzo Law has a Sunny Isles Beach page about property guardianship for minors, roughly 350 words that have nothing to do with estate planning at all.
At The Schoonover Law Firm, P.A., estate planning for Miami-Dade families is the entire practice, not a side offering, and Sunny Isles Beach’s specific situation; high-value condos, international families, seasonal residents is addressed directly, not ignored.
Lady Bird Deeds for Condo Owners
We use this tool to help Sunny Isles Beach families pass their condos directly to beneficiaries at death, eliminating the roughly 3% in probate fees Florida law would otherwise require. HOA documents reviewed before drafting.
Predictable Flat-Fee Pricing
Every estate plan is based on a flat fee confirmed in writing before any legal work begins; no hourly billing, no surprises.
International Family Experience
Attorney Schoonover regularly works with non-U.S. citizens, seasonal residents, and families with assets or ties in other countries, situations the template firms in this search result haven't addressed at all.
A Real Miami-Dade Office
Attorney Schoonover works from Miami; a short drive from Sunny Isles Beach, not a firm in Boca Raton treating your city as one line in a list of 400.
Plain-Language Guidance
We replace dense legal jargon with clear, actionable explanations, so you understand every document in your plan and how it protects your family.
Real Evening and Weekend Access
In-person Monday through Friday before 5:00 PM by appointment. Phone and Zoom consultations Monday through Sunday, 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with the attorney herself.
Estate Planning Attorney Serving Sunny Isles Beach and Surrounding Communities
Attorney Schoonover serves families throughout the northeast Miami-Dade and southern Broward corridor.
Primary Service Areas
Sunny Isles Beach · Aventura · Bal Harbour · Golden Beach · North Miami Beach · Hallandale Beach · Miami Beach · Miami
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
Address: 6303 Waterford District Dr, Suite 400, Miami, FL 33126 · Short drive from Sunny Isles Beach. All in-person visits by appointment only
Estate Planning Questions from Sunny Isles Beach
Do I need a trust if I already own a condo in Sunny Isles Beach?
In most cases, yes. A condo is real property, you cannot add a “transfer on death” beneficiary to it the way you can with a bank account. Without a trust or a Lady Bird Deed, your condo must go through Florida probate court before it can pass to your family. On a $600,000 unit, that process can cost up to $18,000 in fees and take several months. A revocable living trust or a Lady Bird Deed eliminates both problems.
What is a will attorney and what does a will actually do?
A will attorney; sometimes called a last will and testament attorney, drafts the legal document that states who receives your estate after you die and who is in charge of making that happen. Your will can also name a guardian for your minor children and leave gifts to charities. What a will does not do: it does not avoid probate. Assets titled in your name at death still go through court, even with a will. For condo owners and anyone who wants to keep the process fast and private, a trust or Lady Bird Deed is usually added alongside the will.
What is a living trust attorney and why might I need one?
A living trust attorney; also called a revocable living trust attorney, creates the legal agreement that holds your assets during your lifetime and distributes them at death without probate court. For Sunny Isles Beach residents, the main benefits are speed (a trust closes within days, not months), privacy (a trust never becomes a public record, unlike a will), and flexibility (you can change it at any time while you’re alive). If you own significant assets or real estate, a trust is usually the most important document in your estate plan.
What does a Lady Bird Deed attorney do?
A Lady Bird Deed attorney drafts and records the enhanced life estate deed that transfers your condo or home to a named beneficiary at death, without probate. We also review your building’s HOA documents to confirm the deed will work with your specific unit, and we coordinate the recording with Miami-Dade County. A properly drafted Lady Bird Deed is one of the most cost-effective tools in Florida estate planning, particularly for condo owners who want to avoid the time and expense of probate on their most valuable asset.
I am not a U.S. citizen. Can I still do estate planning in Florida?
Yes. Non-U.S. citizens can create wills and trusts in Florida. However, there are important differences: the federal estate tax treats non-citizen spouses differently from citizen spouses, and a standard revocable trust may not provide the same protections for your surviving spouse if they are also a non-citizen. We work with international families in Miami-Dade County regularly and can structure your plan to account for your citizenship situation, any property you own abroad, and any other country-specific considerations.
What is a health care surrogate and why do I need one?
A health care surrogate is the person you designate to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot communicate your own wishes. This is separate from your power of attorney, which covers financial decisions. Without naming a health care surrogate, Florida law determines who gets to speak for you based on a ranked list of relatives, which may not match who you’d actually want in that role, especially in blended families or for unmarried partners.
How much does estate planning cost in Florida?
At The Schoonover Law Firm, every service is priced as a flat fee, confirmed in writing before work begins. A basic will package typically runs $800 to $1,500. A complete trust-based plan, including a Lady Bird Deed and all supporting documents, typically runs $3,500 to $8,000. The exact cost depends on what you own and what your plan needs to accomplish. We discuss pricing on the free consultation call before any work starts.
Does this firm offer a free consultation?
Yes. Attorney Schoonover offers a free initial consultation; by phone, video, or in person at our Miami office. We review your situation, explain exactly what documents you need, and provide a flat-fee quote. There is no obligation to move forward after the call.
Can I do my estate planning remotely without coming to your office?
Yes. We work with clients by phone and video conference throughout Miami-Dade County and across Florida. Many Sunny Isles Beach residents complete their entire estate plan without visiting our office in person. The signing process requires witnesses and a notary, but we can walk you through how to arrange that at your location or at our office if you prefer.
How often should I update my estate plan?
Review your plan every 3 to 5 years, and immediately after any major life change: marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or grandchild, the death of a beneficiary or named representative, a significant change in what you own, or a move. For Sunny Isles Beach residents who own property internationally or spend part of the year outside Florida, an annual review is a good habit.
Start Your Sunny Isles Beach Estate Plan Today
A complete Sunny Isles Beach estate plan typically takes 1 to 4 weeks from first call to signing. Attorney Schoonover reviews your assets, your family, and your goals on the first call, and tells you exactly what you need and what it costs before any work begins, with no obligation to move forward.
Attorney Schoonover drafts complete Florida estate plans for Sunny Isles Beach, Aventura, Bal Harbour, and Miami families: including last wills, revocable living trusts, Lady Bird Deeds, durable powers of attorney, healthcare surrogate designations, and living wills. Want to understand how to avoid probate in more depth first? Start there, then come back to build your Sunny Isles Beach plan.
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
