Estate Administration Paralegal

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate probate administration by preparing and filing court documents, identifying heirs, communicating with beneficiaries, and gathering financial records.
• Serve as a liaison between attorneys, executors, administrators, beneficiaries, financial institutions, and other parties to ensure accurate and timely communication.
• Monitor statutory deadlines, procedural requirements, inheritance tax deadlines, and probate court rules across various counties.
• Prepare and assist with federal and state individual, fiduciary income, gift, estate, and inheritance tax returns, including payment tracking and supporting documentation.
• Maintain accurate estate records, receipts, matter files, correspondence, accountings, ledgers, and billable time records.
• Balance financial records, prepare estate accountings, and coordinate asset handling, liquidation, distribution, and funding transfers.
• Prepare family settlement agreements, petitions, receipts and releases, and other estate administration or court-related documents.
• Collaborate with attorneys and staff to streamline the probate process while maintaining accuracy, organization, and compliance.

Qualifications And Skills

• Experience in trusts and estates with a law firm, accounting firm, or bank trust department preferred.
• Prior experience with probate administration and preparation of state and federal fiduciary income and death tax returns.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant work experience; paralegal certificate is a plus.
• Proficiency with Windows-based software and Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with Lackner 6-in-1 Estate and Trust Administration software is strongly preferred.
• Comfort with accounting, balancing, mathematics, reconciliations, and accurate financial recordkeeping.
• Familiarity with document management systems and organized electronic and physical file maintenance.
• Strong communication skills, attention to detail, accuracy, teamwork, discretion, and client-service judgment.
• Knowledge of wills, trust agreements, estate-related tax matters, and estate-related real estate issues is helpful.

Benefits

• Dental insurance
• Free parking
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Vision insurance