Trust & Estates Paralegal

A downtown Chicago law firm with a strong Trusts & Estates practice is seeking an experienced Estate & Trust Administration Paralegal to support attorneys on complex probate, trust administration, and fiduciary matters. This role is heavily administrative and client-facing and is ideal for a paralegal who can manage matters independently and communicate confidently with clients and beneficiaries.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of estate and trust administration, including probate filings, court documents, e-filing, deadlines, and calendars
• Marshal and organize asset information; assist with inventories and accountings
• Coordinate asset transfers and distributions to beneficiaries
• Communicate directly with clients, fiduciaries, beneficiaries, and financial institutions
• Assist with estate and gift tax support (Forms 706 and 709), including gathering and organizing financial data
• Support guardianship matters and related court filings
• Maintain organized and confidential client files (digital and physical)
• Assist, as needed, with estate planning documents (wills, trusts, powers of attorney) and trust funding

Qualifications

• Minimum 4+ years of experience in estate and trust administration and/or probate
• Bachelor’s degree or paralegal certificate
• Strong organizational, deadline-management, and client communication skills
• Familiarity with probate court procedures and e-filing systems
• Experience with CCH ProSystem or similar tax software is a plus
• Professional, detail-oriented, and comfortable working with clients in sensitive situations