Probate/Estate Planning Paralegal

Burr & Forman•Bluffton, SC

14h•Onsite

About The Position

Burr & Forman LLP is hiring a full-time, experienced Probate/Estate Planning Paralegal for its Bluffton, South Carolina office. The role involves complex paralegal work requiring knowledge of legal terminology and processes. The paralegal will support estate administration from initial client inquiries through the closing of estates, handling documents, communications, asset coordination, filings, valuations, and administrative tasks. The position calls for strong organization and communication, proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, paralegal certification or degree, and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Two or more years of probate/estate planning experience.
Knowledge of legal processes, principles, and practices involved in probating estate assets and the responsibilities of personal representatives regarding estate tax procedures for decedents.
Strong organizational skills; detail-oriented, proactive, and willing to take ownership as a contributing team member.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Comfort interacting with clients through correspondence, email, telephone, and in person.
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Ability to balance competing priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment, exercising patience and professionalism during stressful situations.

Responsibilities

Review and respond to initial client or attorney contacts and correspondence with information about the scope of work, fees, and expenses related to estate administration.
Review and analyze estate documents, including wills, deeds, death certificates, trust agreements, affidavits, and estate tax returns.
Assist with coordinating and identifying personal and real property estate assets, heirs, and devisees.
Search for documentation or coordinate appraisals to determine date-of-death valuations of estate assets and real property.
Prepare petitions, documents, and correspondence to open ancillary and in-state administrations, obtain appointment of personal representatives, and follow through to estate closing with Probate Court and Taxing Authorities.
Prepare correspondence and applicable documents, including court documents, to beneficiaries to report on the status of administration.
Prepare property-transfer documents, including deeds, deeds of distribution, and attorney affidavits for filing with the Register of Deeds.
Review date-of-death valuations and prepare and coordinate Non-Resident Tax Notices to the probate judge, estate tax returns, and related correspondence to Taxing Authorities.
Prepare requests for disbursement of expenses related to estate administration.
Reconcile monthly estate valuations.
Coordinate appointments, assemble and distribute documents to clients, and log and store documents.
Perform other responsibilities as needed.