Trusts & Estates Paralegal

Florham Park, NJ; New York, NY

Summary (About the Firm)

Our client provides the highest caliber legal expertise to its clients and a collaborative team-oriented environment for its attorneys. They believe that a good work/life balance enables them to provide excellent legal service over the long-term. Our client has built a modern firm based on the belief that a healthy life outside the office supports a positive and rewarding legal career and forms the foundation of a lasting firm culture with committed attorneys. They’ve been consistently ranked as one of the Best Places to Work in New Jersey and intend to continue to support clients and attorneys as a family.

Responsibilities

• Estate Planning: Assists attorneys in preparation of estate documents including drafting of wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, financial powers of attorney and health care proxies/living wills. Assists clients in funding their trusts. Utilizes working knowledge of the formation and estate-planning function of limited liability companies, charitable foundations, and family limited partnerships.
• Estate Administration: Utilizes knowledge of the procedures for transferring and distributing trust and probate estates, the preparation and use of disclaimers, and the funding of trusts. Prepares and files federal and state estate tax returns.
• Probate: Handles all aspects of opening probate proceedings from the appointment of a executors and trustees to the final distribution of the estate, preparation of forms to probate a will and qualify executors and testamentary trustees, including valuation of estate assets and the drafting of all court forms, petitions, refunding bonds and orders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required. Senior Paralegals are responsible for complying with the continuing education requirements of the firm.
• Senior Trust & Estates Paralegals are required to have at least five years of experience as a probate/estate planning paralegal.
• Significant substantive knowledge of the procedures, terminology and documents relating to complex probate/estate planning matters;
• Able to competently draft documents.
• Able to prepare estate and gift tax returns and accountings.
• Outstanding organizational and time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to both understand the “big picture” and deliver work with close attention to detail.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office software (Word, Outlook, Excel), and other law office software used by the Trust & Estates Paralegals.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work effectively within a team environment and to work proactively.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment; ability to coordinate multiple tasks concurrently.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $70,000 – $100,000, nonexempt.

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