Estate & Probate Paralegal in Downtown South Bend, Indiana
About the Role
Our client is seeking an Estate & Probate Paralegal to manage a portfolio of trust, estate, agency, and guardianship accounts. If you’re a paralegal with experience in estate planning, probate, or trust administration, this role puts your skills to work in a new setting: instead of supporting attorneys on these matters, you’ll administer the accounts directly, working with clients, beneficiaries, and outside counsel, with senior trust officers available for guidance on complex issues.
Responsibilities
- Set up and administer estates, trusts, agency accounts, and guardianships
- Review wills, trust agreements, and other governing documents to determine terms and fiduciary duties
- Handle initial account processing, including preparing records, paying expenses, compiling inventories, and obtaining releases of assets
- Administer accounts in accordance with each trust instrument
- Explain trust and will provisions to clients and beneficiaries and arrange appropriate distributions
- Coordinate with attorneys on estate and trust matters
- Bring non-routine questions to senior officers with a recommended course of action
- Maintain accurate account records and files
- [Support client relationship and business development efforts as needed]
- Complete required compliance training and follow all applicable laws and regulations
Required
- 2+ years of paralegal experience in estate planning, probate, or trust administration
- Working knowledge of wills, trusts, and the probate process
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Close attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple matters through to completion
Preferred
- Paralegal certificate or certification (e.g., NALA CP, NFPA RP)
- Bachelor’s degree
- Experience preparing estate inventories, accountings, or fiduciary tax documents
- Experience in a bank trust department or corporate fiduciary setting
Benefits
Full: Health, dental, vision, 401(k) match, PTO, etc.
Work Environment
Standard office environment with occasional travel for meetings and seminars. Reasonable accommodations are available to enable individuals to perform the essential functions of the role.
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