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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