Top-Ranked Guardianship Lawyers in Coral Gables, Florida

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked guardianship lawyers in Coral Gables, Florida are Darin Irwin Zenov (LexRank 78.60), Lourdes Maria Fernandez (76.25) and Luis Enrique Barreto “Luis E Barreto” (75.00).

This ranking lists 24 guardianship lawyers in Coral Gables, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 0 to 39 years in practice. 19 of the 24 list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked: 24
Fully verified: 24 of 24

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

No change
DZ
Darin Irwin Zenov
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 35 years experience
- Guardianship
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #1?
Ranks #1 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 16.0)
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
LF
Lourdes Maria Fernandez
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 28 years experience
- Guardianship
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #2?
Ranks #2 with 76.25: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 2.35 points behind #1, mostly professional credentials.
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 16.0)
2.35 points behind #1 (Darin Irwin Zenov): Professional credentials −3.8.
No change
LB
Luis Enrique Barreto “Luis E Barreto”
Luis E Barreto & Associates, P.A. · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 34 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #3?
Ranks #3 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 1.25 points behind #2, mostly practice-area relevance.
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.2)
1.25 points behind #2 (Lourdes Maria Fernandez): Practice-area relevance −5.
No change
CH
Christy Lyn Hertz
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 33 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #4?
Ranks #4 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.2)
No change
RL
Richard Lorenzo
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 34 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #5?
Ranks #5 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.2)
No change
AV
Ana M Veliz
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 39 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #6?
Ranks #6 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.2)
No change
LH
Leticia Hernandez
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 23 years experience
- Guardianship
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #7?
Ranks #7 with 73.85: strongest in Experience (27.6/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 1.15 points behind #6, mostly professional credentials.
Strongest
- Experience 27.6/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 16.0)
1.15 points behind #6 (Ana M Veliz): Professional credentials −3.8, Experience −2.4.
No change
HN
Hung Viet Nguyen
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 24 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #8?
Ranks #8 with 73.80: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 0.05 points behind #7, mostly practice-area relevance.
Strongest
- Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.2)
0.05 points behind #7 (Leticia Hernandez): Practice-area relevance −5.
No change
SM
Sandra Hoyos “Sandra Hoyos Mejia”
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 25 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #9?
Ranks #9 with 73.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 0.20 points behind #8, mostly data quality.
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.2)
0.20 points behind #8 (Hung Viet Nguyen): Data quality −1.4.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
MJ
Michelle Marie Jorge
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 25 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #10?
Ranks #10 with 73.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.2)
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
VT
Vanessa D Torres
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 15 years experience
- Guardianship
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #11?
Ranks #11 with 64.25: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (18/30). 9.35 points behind #10, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 16.0)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
Held back by
- Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
9.35 points behind #10 (Michelle Marie Jorge): Experience −12, Professional credentials −3.8.
No change
SR
Stacy Beth Rubel
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 16 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #12?
Ranks #12 with 64.20: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (19.2/30). 0.05 points behind #11, mostly practice-area relevance.
Strongest
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.2)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
Held back by
- Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
0.05 points behind #11 (Vanessa D Torres): Practice-area relevance −5.
No change
ML
Max Andres Lopez
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 14 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #13?
Ranks #13 with 61.80: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (16.8/30). 2.40 points behind #12, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.2)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
Held back by
- Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
2.40 points behind #12 (Stacy Beth Rubel): Experience −2.4.
No change
GJ
George Lambeth Metcalfe Jr.
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 14 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #14?
Ranks #14 with 61.80: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (16.8/30).
Strongest
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.2)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
Held back by
- Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
No change
AH
Alexander Joseph Hernandez
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 13 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #15?
Ranks #15 with 60.60: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (15.6/30). 1.20 points behind #14, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.2)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
Held back by
- Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
1.20 points behind #14 (George Lambeth Metcalfe Jr.): Experience −1.2.
No change
SA
Samah Taysser Abukhodeir
The Florida Probate & Family Law Firm · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 12 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #16?
Ranks #16 with 59.40: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (14.4/30). 1.20 points behind #15, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.2)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
Held back by
- Experience 14.4/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
1.20 points behind #15 (Alexander Joseph Hernandez): Experience −1.2.
No change
YM
Yudislaidys Mallol
The Florida Probate & Family Law Firm · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 8 years experience
- Guardianship
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #17?
Ranks #17 with 58.20: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (9.6/30). 1.20 points behind #16, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 16.0)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.2)
Held back by
- Experience 9.6/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
1.20 points behind #16 (Samah Taysser Abukhodeir): Experience −4.8, Data quality −1.4.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
YY
Yuneymis Barreto “Yuni”
Luis E Barreto & Associates, P.A. · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 10 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #18?
Ranks #18 with 55.60: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Experience (12/30). 2.60 points behind #17, mostly practice-area relevance.
Strongest
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.2)
- Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)
Held back by
- Experience 12/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
2.60 points behind #17 (Yudislaidys Mallol): Practice-area relevance −5.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
JJ
Joshua E. Rasco “Josh”
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 11 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #19?
Ranks #19 with 54.45: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Experience (13.2/30). 1.15 points behind #18, mostly professional credentials.
Strongest
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
- Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)
Held back by
- Experience 13.2/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
1.15 points behind #18 (Yuneymis Barreto “Yuni”): Professional credentials −3.8.
No change
AA
Alexander Ian Cohen “Alex”
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 8 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #20?
Ranks #20 with 53.20: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Experience (9.6/30). 1.25 points behind #19, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.2)
- Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)
Held back by
- Experience 9.6/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
1.25 points behind #19 (Joshua E. Rasco “Josh”): Experience −3.6, Data quality −1.4.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
MM
Melissa Gonzalez Marrero
Lavender Greenberg PLLC · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 5 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #21?
Ranks #21 with 51.00: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (6/30). 2.20 points behind #20, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.2)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
Held back by
- Experience 6/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
2.20 points behind #20 (Alexander Ian Cohen “Alex”): Experience −3.6.
No change
AB
Aida Marcia Brito
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 5 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #22?
Ranks #22 with 51.00: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (6/30).
Strongest
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.2)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
Held back by
- Experience 6/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
No change
NC
Noah Ignacio Chevallier
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 0 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #23?
Ranks #23 with 45.00: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (0/30). 6.00 points behind #22, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.2)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
Held back by
- Experience 0/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
6.00 points behind #22 (Aida Marcia Brito): Experience −6.
No change
MB
Melody Marie Blanco
Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL
Verified
- 0 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #24?
Ranks #24 with 41.25: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Experience (0/30). 3.75 points behind #23, mostly professional credentials.
Strongest
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
- Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)
Held back by
- Experience 0/30 (ranking avg 18.9)
3.75 points behind #23 (Noah Ignacio Chevallier): Professional credentials −3.8.

Data sources behind the scores

Every score on this page is calculated from facts backed by these sources. Each profile shows which source supports which fact and when it was last checked.

floridabar.org · Official / regulatory · 24 profile pages250 facts for 24 lawyers

Guardianship market in Coral Gables

LexRanked tracks 24 lawyers and 3 law firms in guardianship law in Coral Gables, Florida. 24 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 22, 2026.

Lawyers: 24
Law firms: 3
Verified professional data: 24 of 24
Average rating: Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count: Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience: 14.5 years24 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on November 1, 2026; data verified October 22, 2026. Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in Coral Gables

What sets these Coral Gables lawyers apart

Every lawyer in this ranking has a The Florida Bar license verified as eligible to practice, and every fact shown links to its source. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 24 ranked lawyers	Figure
Years in practice	0 to 39 (median 14.5)
Languages besides English	Spanish (19), Arabic (1), Vietnamese (1)
License status with The Florida Bar	Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school	Florida International University, College of Law (5 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Coral Gables office address and guardianship as a practice area on record. It compares 24 guardianship lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. The Florida Bar does not board-certify lawyers in guardianship, so the practice area is the one each lawyer lists on their Florida Bar profile, which The Florida Bar does not review. How we rank.

Florida rules to know

A Florida guardianship starts with a verified petition to determine incapacity, and the court-appointed guardian must report to the court within 60 days and file a plan every year; the ward keeps rights such as yearly review and restoration as soon as possible.

Rule	What it means
Petition	Any adult may file a verified petition to determine that a person is incapacitated (Fla. Stat. § 744.3201)
Who may serve	A Florida resident 18 or older; a nonresident only if related to the ward as the statute lists (§ 744.309)
Disqualification	A person convicted of a felony may not serve as guardian (§ 744.309(3))
Initial report	The guardian files an inventory or initial plan within 60 days after letters of guardianship are signed (§ 744.362)
Annual plan	A guardian of the person files an annual guardianship plan within 90 days after the anniversary month (§ 744.367)
Rights kept	The ward keeps rights including an annual review, continuing review of restrictions and restoration to capacity at the earliest possible time (§ 744.3215)

Court	Where cases are heard
State court circuit	Miami-Dade County is in Florida's Eleventh Judicial Circuit

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing before you sign.

Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.
If you prefer to work in another language, check the languages listed on each profile.

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

Who can file for guardianship in Florida?

Any adult may file a verified petition to determine that a person is incapacitated, under section 744.3201. The court then decides on capacity and on who should serve as guardian.

Can someone outside Florida be a guardian?

Only if related to the ward in a way section 744.309 lists, such as by blood or adoption, or the spouse of such a relative. Florida residents 18 or older may serve unless disqualified.

Who cannot be a guardian in Florida?

A person convicted of a felony, or one who cannot carry out the duties because of incapacity or illness or is otherwise unsuitable (section 744.309(3)).

What reports must a Florida guardian file?

An initial report within 60 days after letters are signed (section 744.362) and, for a guardian of the person, an annual guardianship plan within 90 days after the anniversary month (section 744.367).

What rights does a person under guardianship keep?

Among others, an annual review of the guardianship report and plan, continuing review of any restriction of rights and restoration to capacity at the earliest possible time (section 744.3215).

Which court handles cases in Coral Gables?

State court cases in Miami-Dade County are heard in Florida's Eleventh Judicial Circuit.

Are there Spanish-speaking guardianship lawyers in Coral Gables?

Yes. 19 of the 24 ranked lawyers list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile. Each LexRanked profile shows the languages on record.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

24 of the 24 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Darin Irwin Zenov, Lourdes Maria Fernandez, Luis Enrique Barreto “Luis E Barreto”, Christy Lyn Hertz and Richard Lorenzo and others.

Which lawyers speak Spanish?

19 of the 24 lawyers in this ranking have it on record, 19 confirmed by a verified fact or an official record. They are ranked separately by the same LexRank score. Top-Ranked Spanish-Speaking Guardianship Lawyers in Coral Gables, Florida

What is the difference between the top two lawyers?

Darin Irwin Zenov scores 78.60 and Lourdes Maria Fernandez 76.25, a gap of 2.35 points, mostly in professional credentials. Compare them side by side

About this ranking

Last updated: November 1, 2026
Methodology: LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review: LexRanked editorial team, October 19, 2026
Independence: Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

Explore

Summary

The ranking

Data sources behind the scores

Guardianship market in Coral Gables

What sets these Coral Gables lawyers apart

Who is included in this ranking?

Florida rules to know

How to choose among these lawyers

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

About this ranking

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