Estate Planning Attorney in Miami Beach, FL: Wills, Trusts, and Probate Avoidance
Attorney Yanitza Schoonover drafts complete estate plans for Miami Beach families and property owners. Flat fee pricing for estate planning. Lady Bird Deeds. Revocable living trusts. Every document personally handled. Bilingual English and Spanish. Florida Bar #124081.
Estate Planning Attorney Serving Miami Beach, FL
Miami Beach is one of the most internationally diverse communities in Florida. Property owners here range from longtime residents who bought decades ago to recent transplants drawn by Florida’s tax advantages, retirees enjoying the lifestyle, and international families who split time between Miami Beach and another country.
Each of these situations creates different estate planning needs, and generic documents rarely address any of them correctly. Attorney Yanitza Schoonover serves Miami Beach families and property owners from her office on Waterford District Drive in Miami, providing full estate planning service in both English and Spanish with flat fee pricing for all estate planning services.
Out-of-state documents, online templates, and non-Florida attorneys often miss Florida’s execution requirements, homestead restrictions, and Miami-Dade County recording rules. A document that fails those requirements can be voided in probate court.
Typical Property Value
Miami Beach condos and homes often exceed $1.2 million. At 3% statutory attorney fees, that is $36,000+ before your family inherits a dollar.
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.
Miami Beach Has Unique Estate Planning Needs
Miami Beach’s diverse community creates four distinct planning situations that standard estate plans from other states rarely address correctly.
Longtime Property Owners
A Miami Beach condo or home bought decades ago may be worth ten times its original price. Without a Lady Bird Deed or funded trust, that property goes through probate court for 9 to 24 months before your family can touch it.
International Families
Families who split time between Miami Beach and another country need Florida-specific documents. A foreign will or power of attorney may not satisfy Florida's execution requirements.
Retirees and Snowbirds
Retirees who own Miami Beach property but are domiciled in another state need Florida ancillary probate for that property, unless it is held in a trust or transferred by Lady Bird Deed.
What Estate Planning Services Does The Schoonover Law Firm Provide in Miami Beach?
A complete Miami Beach estate plan typically includes six legal documents. 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 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. Avoids the cost and delay of a court-supervised guardianship proceeding. |
| Healthcare surrogate designation | 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 when it matters most. |
| Lady Bird Deed | Transfers your Miami Beach property to your beneficiaries at death without probate. Preserves Florida homestead protection and Medicaid eligibility while you keep full lifetime control. |
Probate avoidance is the most common goal Miami Beach clients bring to The Schoonover Law Firm. Miami Beach property values are among the highest in Miami-Dade County. Florida probate costs 3% of the estate in statutory attorney fees alone, plus court costs and publication fees on top of that. On a $1.2 million Miami Beach condo or home, that is over $36,000 in attorney fees before a single dollar reaches your family. A revocable living trust and a Lady Bird Deed eliminate that cost entirely for most estates.
Lady Bird Deeds for Miami Beach Property Owners
Miami Beach real estate, whether a condo on the water or a home in the historic neighborhoods, often represents the single largest asset a family owns. Without a plan in place, that property passes through Florida probate before anyone can sell it, refinance it, or transfer it, a process that takes 9 to 24 months in Miami-Dade Circuit Court.
A Lady Bird Deed, also called an enhanced life estate deed, transfers your Miami Beach property to your named beneficiaries at death without any probate proceeding. You retain complete ownership and control during your lifetime. You can sell, refinance, lease, or revoke the deed at any time without your beneficiaries’ consent.
The deed does not trigger Medicaid disqualification under federal rules, and it preserves Florida homestead protection along with the Save Our Homes assessment cap through the transfer. None of the estate planning firms currently serving Miami Beach offer a dedicated Lady Bird Deed service.
Incapacity Planning: Protecting Yourself Before a Crisis, Not Just After Death
Estate planning is not only about what happens when you die. Incapacity planning protects you and your family while you are still alive but unable to manage your own affairs. Many Miami Beach 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, real estate, and financial affairs immediately upon your incapacity, with no court involvement required.
Healthcare Surrogate Designation
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, without the 60 to 120-day delay and the $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. It is one of the most practical and least understood tools in a properly funded revocable living trust.
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 Beach Seniors
Miami Beach has a substantial senior population, including many longtime residents who have owned their homes or condos 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 Beach property owners because it transfers the property 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 Beach 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 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 Miami Beach families and property owners personally, from the initial consultation through trust funding and deed recording.
Miami Beach estate planning requires more than a generic template. International property ownership, Florida homestead restrictions on high-value condos and homes, Miami-Dade County recording requirements, and the specific probate avoidance tools that protect Miami Beach property owners demand an attorney who understands the local market, handles every document without delegation, and charges flat fees rather than hourly rates 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 Beach Families Choose The Schoonover Law Firm
Miami Beach has no shortage of estate planning options. Large firms often mean your case gets passed between multiple staff members. The Schoonover Law Firm works differently, with a direct focus on practical protection for Miami Beach families and property owners.
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 service in both languages for Miami Beach's diverse international community. Hablamos Español.
Extended Availability: 7 Days a Week
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 Beach estate planning firm offers a dedicated Lady Bird Deed service. This is a core focus here for every property owner.
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 Beach and Surrounding Communities
Primary Service Areas
Miami Beach · South Beach · North Beach Surfside · Bal Harbour · Aventura Sunny Isles Beach · Bay Harbor Islands
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 Beach · All in-person visits by appointment only
Estate Planning Questions from Miami Beach Families
Common questions Attorney Schoonover receives from Miami Beach families and property owners during initial consultations.
How do I avoid probate on my Miami Beach property?
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 does the same for your Miami Beach home or condo specifically, while you retain full ownership and control during your lifetime. Used together, a funded revocable living trust and a Lady Bird Deed eliminate formal probate administration for most Miami Beach property owners, which matters given how quickly property values here can put an estate well above the threshold for formal administration.
What is a successor trustee and why does my Miami Beach estate plan need one?
A successor trustee is the person you name in your revocable living trust who takes over management of your trust assets if you become incapacitated or pass away. Unlike a personal representative in Florida probate, a successor trustee acts immediately and privately without any court appointment or judicial oversight. For Miami Beach families with a funded revocable living trust, the successor trustee can manage property, pay bills, and distribute assets to beneficiaries without waiting months for court approval.
How much does estate planning cost in Miami Beach?
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 property 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 Miami Beach clients 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 Beach clients 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 Beach Estate Plan Today
A complete Miami Beach 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 Beach families and property owners including last wills, revocable living trusts, Lady Bird Deeds, durable powers of attorney, healthcare surrogate designations, 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
