Trust & Estates Paralegal

Trust & Estates Paralegal
Hackensack, NJ (In-Office)
Salary: $80,000 – $90,000 + Benefits

A well-established Hackensack law firm is seeking an experienced Trust & Estates Paralegal to join its Trusts & Estates practice. This is an in-office role for a paralegal with 3+ years of substantive T&E experience who is comfortable working closely with attorneys on trust administration, probate, and the tax and accounting side of estate work.

Responsibilities

• Handle trust administration matters from funding through distribution, including drafting trust-related documents and correspondence
• Manage probate and Surrogate's Court filings and procedures
• Prepare fiduciary accountings for estates and trusts
• Assist with preparation of estate and trust tax returns (e.g., Form 706, NJ-IT, L-8/L-9)
• Draft wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives
• Coordinate with attorneys, clients, and outside accountants on tax and accounting matters related to estate administration
• Maintain case files and track deadlines across an active T&E caseload

Must-Have

• 3+ years of dedicated Trust & Estates paralegal experience
• Hands-on trust administration experience (not just drafting ancillary documents)
• Direct experience with the tax and accounting aspects of estate/trust work, including fiduciary accounting and estate/trust tax return preparation

Nice-to-Have

• Familiarity with NJ/NY estate and inheritance tax rules
• Experience with probate and Surrogate's Court procedures
• Paralegal certificate or relevant degree
• Experience with iManage, OneSource, or similar software

Location: Hackensack, NJ (fully in-office)
Compensation: $80,000 - $90,000 base, commensurate with experience, plus benefits