Trusts & Estates Paralegal
21 days ago
North Palm Beach
Job Description Position Summary The Trusts & Estates Paralegal will support attorneys through all phases of estate planning, probate, and trust administration. This role requires a balance of substantive billable work and administrative file management. The ideal candidate takes charge, works independently, and is a detail-oriented professional capable of managing multiple court, tax, and client deadlines while maintaining high-quality work product. This role, featuring direct client contact and hands-on responsibility during sensitive life transitions, directly impacts the positive outcomes of our clients' matters. This is the perfect position for the professional who really cares and derives a high level of satisfaction from helping people and a “job well done.” Preferred Qualifications • Education: Bachelor’s degree and/or a Paralegal Certificate from an ABA-approved program., • Experience: 3–5 years of experience in probate and trust administration (Florida experience strongly preferred)., • Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, document management, and probate/estate tax software., • Abilities: Strong writing and communication skills, ability to bill 1,400 + hours annually, and an understanding of the Florida Probate and Trust Codes and rules of procedure. Compensation and Benefits • Salary:, • Mid-Level (3–5 years’ experience): $60,000 – $75,000 per year., • Senior Level (5+ years / High-Net-Worth & 706 expertise): $75,000 – $90,000+ per year., • PTO, • Health, dental, vision insurance, • Life insurance, LTD, STD, • 401k Core Responsibilities and Duties Substantive & Billable (80-90%) • Estate & Trust Administration: Draft pleadings for formal, summary, and ancillary probate administrations. Prepare letters of administration, inventories, and accountings for beneficiaries and courts., • Tax Document Preparation: Assist in preparing federal estate tax returns (Form 706)., • Estate Planning Support: Drafting support for foundational estate planning documents, including Wills, Revocable Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Healthcare Surrogate Designations, and Living Wills., • Asset & Funding Coordination: Assist clients with the asset verification and funding process, including drafting change-of-beneficiary forms for financial accounts., • Legal Research: Utilize LexisNexis to perform preliminary statutory and case law research regarding probate and trust laws. Administrative & Non-Billable (10-20%) • Conflict Checks: Processing new matter intake forms and running conflict-of-interest searches., • File Maintenance: Organizing physical or digital client files, maintaining estate planning originals, and ensuring proper saving of correspondence, deeds, and corporate books., • Scheduling & Signing Coordination: Coordinating the scheduling of client consultations, document review sessions, and formal estate executions (notarizing and witnessing)., • Vendor Management: Directing activities of appraisers, asset search vendors, couriers, and copy centers. Performance Indicators • Positive, “can-do” attitude and a team-oriented, collaborative approach to professional responsibilities., • Accuracy and timeliness of probate court filings and notice publications., • Consistent achievement of monthly billable hour targets., • Effectiveness in managing sensitive client interactions with empathy and professionalism., • Reliability and strict attention to statutory deadlines. Examples of Substantive Legal Work Case & File Management • Ensuring Deadline Compliance: Calendaring and tracking court deadlines for creditor claims, inventory filings, final accountings, and tax filing deadlines., • Filing: Electronically filing (e-filing) probate petitions, notices, and pleadings via the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. Probate & Trust Administration • Drafting Pleadings: Assisting with initial drafts of Petitions for Administration, Orders Appointing Personal Representative, Notices to Creditors, and Petitions for Discharge., • Asset Marshaling: Contacting financial institutions to gather date-of-death values, liquidating estate accounts, and maintaining clear asset logs., • Accountings: Preparing comprehensive fiduciary accountings for trusts and estates to be distributed to beneficiaries., • Client Meetings: Meeting with personal representatives, trustees, and beneficiaries to secure historical asset documents and ensure compliance with estate requirements., • Creditor Claims: Reviewing and tracking claims filed against the estate; drafting objections or coordinate payments to valid creditors., • Vendor Management: Directing the activities of local couriers, publication newspapers for creditor notices, real estate appraisers, and estate liquidators. Estate Planning & Trust Funding • Document Customization: Tailoring estate planning packages based on attorney-approved designs., • Asset Transfers: Preparing assignments of property, corporate stock transfers, and coordinating with financial advisors to align accounts with trust funding instructions., • Real Estate Coordination: Draft deeds (Into Trust, Ladybird, Distributive deeds) and recording documents to transfer real property into trusts or to beneficiaries.Company DescriptionJeck Harris is a premier law firm located in Juno Beach, Florida. Specializing in a range of practice areas including Real Estate, Estate Planning, Probate, Trust Administration, Litigation, Land Use & Development, Business Entities, and Banking, Jeck Harris offers comprehensive legal solutions and a collaborative team committed to providing tailored, high-quality legal solutions to meet our clients’ needs.Jeck Harris is a premier law firm located in Juno Beach, Florida. Specializing in a range of practice areas including Real Estate, Estate Planning, Probate, Trust Administration, Litigation, Land Use & Development, Business Entities, and Banking, Jeck Harris offers comprehensive legal solutions and a collaborative team committed to providing tailored, high-quality legal solutions to meet our clients’ needs.