Trust & Estate Administration and Tax Paralegal

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Trust & Estate Administration and Tax Paralegals may perform a broad range of duties across trust and estate administration and tax planning and preparation.

Client Matter Management

• Meets with attorneys, clients, and other professionals to discuss assigned cases or projects.
• Drafts legal documents including routine pleadings and motions, affidavits, files motions and pleadings according to judicial procedures.
• Researches and analyzes statutes, regulations, legal articles, judicial decisions, and other legal sources; provides written analysis to attorneys.
• Prepares, organizes, stores, and retrieves case files, which may include exhibits, depositions, pleadings, and other items.
• Assists attorneys with debts and demands and show cause hearing preparation.
• Develops and maintains records regarding billable hours spent on specific cases.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Probate and Estate and Trust Administration

Paralegals assist in the transfer and distribution of probate estates and trusts, the preparation and use of disclaimers, and the funding of sub-trusts. Their expertise allows them to also open probate proceedings, which includes evaluating estate assets and drafting court forms, petitions, and orders. Job responsibilities in estate and trust administration include:

• Meeting with clients, trustees, family members and financial and tax advisors
• Communicating with beneficiaries
• Preparing correspondence, probate documents, inventories, annual accountings, deeds, asset spreadsheets, settlement agreements, change of ownership forms and proposals for distributions.
• Obtaining and/or calculating date of death value of decedent’s assets
• Preparing sub-trust allocation schedules and distribution plans
• Managing estate and trust administration and maintaining files and compliance calendars
• Notifying beneficiaries
• Preparing and filing all necessary documentation for distributions and taxes
• Ensuring compliance with services related to estate and trust entity and maintenance
• Creating tasks for deadlines, due dates, and reminders
• Maintaining estate and/or trust checkbooks and paying bills
• Calculating fees and beneficiary distributions
• Calculating executor and trustee fees
• Gathering necessary tax forms, income, and expense information to provide to tax preparer for decedent’s final individual tax return, estate and trust fiduciary tax return.
• Drafting and editing petitions and supporting documents required for estate and trust administration, probate, and conservatorship
• Investigating and performing legal research regarding wills, trusts, entitlement issues, creditor claims, and conservatorship challenges
• Preparing summaries and analyses of estate planning documents

*This job description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Competencies

The following are competencies required to be successful in this position:

• Customer Service
  • Responds promptly to customer needs; solicits customer feedback to improve service; responds to requests for service and assistance; meets commitments.
• Oral Communication
  • Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; participates in meetings.
•  Written Communication
  • Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; varies writing style to meet needs; presents numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.
• Temperament
  • Ability to work with little supervision; prioritizes and anticipates work needs; works well underoccasional periods of pressure and short deadlines.
• Ethics
  • Always keeps client and firm information confidential; understands and implements general rules of ethical behavior.
• Accounting Skills
  • Has more than basic knowledge of accounting practices and procedures according to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
• Computer Skills
  • Has advanced knowledge of computer operation, internet software, spreadsheet software and word processing software; the use of Microsoft products is preferred. Has the ability to type and operate office equipment.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree, paralegal certification, financial services/tax certifications or 5+ years of experience in these fields preferred
• Experience in Trust and Estate administration and/or tax planning and preparation preferred

Salary

Hook Law typically pays in the top quartile of its competition. Salary is negotiable; commensurate with experience.

Incentive Plan

Productivity based bonuses paid annually that can significantly enhance base pay.

Rich Retirement Plan

Participate via Roth or Traditional contributions subject to plan requirements. Firm Contributions (Subject to vesting rules): 3% Safe Harbor Contribution to non-highly compensated employees; Direct Recognition Variable Investment Plan (contribution), Profit Sharing Contribution.

Health Care Benefits

• 100% Employee Short-Term and Long-Term Disability covered by the firm
• 90% of Employee premium covered by the firm
• Vision/Dental Insurance available

Relocation

Certain relocation costs may be reimbursed.

Work/Life Balance

We do not believe in overextending ourselves to the point of burnout. Family time is as equally important as work time. Good work requires the ability to focus.

Location

Southeastern Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina enjoy:

· Reasonable cost of living
· Great school systems
· Four seasons – mild winters, moderate fall, spring, and summer Beaches and mountains
· Low traffic
· Strategic Mid-Atlantic location

Culture

Unlike many firms, we truly operate as a team. Our organizational structure is flat, and decisions are made quickly. We have a larger than normal paralegal to attorney ratio, and genuinely desire our people to enjoy coming to work. We embrace technology that improves our efficiency.

Core Values:

· Exceed expectations
· All for one, one for all
· Deliver value
· Strive for expertise
· Have a solutions mindset

Apply Today!

Apply via the form or contact LeeAnn Wilburn, Human Resources Coordinator & Intake Supervisor at lwilburn@hooklaw.net or 757-967-9703.