Careers / Current Oppurtunities
Estate and Trust Administration Paralegal
Join Crane Law, PC and play an important role in guiding families through estate and trust administration. We are seeking an experienced, detail-oriented paralegal who can manage Pennsylvania estate matters from probate through closing while providing accurate, organized, and compassionate client service.
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Compensation Based on Experience & Qualifications
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Full-Time &
In-Person
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Monday - Friday
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
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Bloomsburg,
Pennsylvania
Position Summary
Manages Pennsylvania estate and trust matters from initial intake and probate through asset collection, inheritance-tax preparation, accountings, distributions, and final closing. Coordinates with fiduciaries, beneficiaries, financial institutions, accountants, appraisers, courts, and other professionals while maintaining organized electronic files and monitoring critical deadlines. This position works under attorney supervision and requires a thorough understanding of probate and non-probate assets.
Interested in
This Position?
We'd love to hear from you.
To apply, please submit your résumé and a brief cover letter describing your relevant experience and interest in the position.
Essential Responsibilities
File Management
Open and manage estate and trust matters in Clio from initial intake through final closing.
Maintain current tasks, deadlines, contacts, communications, matter notes, and status information.
Maintain complete and consistently organized electronic files using the firm’s document-naming and file-management procedures.
Support the firm’s primarily paperless environment while safeguarding and tracking original documents and necessary physical records.
Identify missing information, approaching deadlines, and unresolved issues and bring them to the supervising attorney’s attention.
Probate and Asset Administration
Prepare petitions for probate or grant of letters and related Register of Wills filings under attorney supervision.
Obtain death certificates, original testamentary documents, short certificates, fiduciary appointments, and other initial estate documents.
Prepare and send required notices to beneficiaries, interested parties, and government agencies and maintain proof of service or filing.
Prepare notices for legal advertisement, coordinate publication with approved newspapers or legal journals, and retain proof of publication.
Apply for the estate’s Employer Identification Number and assist the fiduciary with opening an estate bank account.
Coordinate and document safe-deposit box access and inventories when applicable.
Identify and document probate and non-probate assets by reviewing wills, trusts, deeds, beneficiary designations, account statements, and ownership records.
Work with fiduciaries, financial institutions, insurance companies, retirement-plan administrators, and other custodians to identify, collect, value, safeguard, transfer, and distribute assets.
Obtain date-of-death balances and coordinate appraisals and valuations for real estate, business interests, personal property, and other assets.
Organize information concerning debts, administration expenses, liens, and creditor claims and assist with their review, documentation, and payment.
Real Estate Administration
Coordinate estate real estate sales with fiduciaries, real estate agents, appraisers, buyers, lenders, title companies, and settlement professionals.
Track agreements, contingencies, closing requirements, settlement dates, expenses, and sale proceeds.
Coordinate the collection, monitoring, documentation, and authorized release of escrowed funds relating to estate real estate transactions.
Tax Returns and Financial Records
Prepare Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Returns, including Forms REV-1500 and REV-1502, supporting schedules, supplemental filings, and related documentation under attorney supervision.
Enter and maintain estate and trust information in Lackner 6-in-1 and InheriTax.
Gather Forms 1099, income records, expenses, and other information for the estate’s accountant to prepare the decedent’s final Form 1040 and any required Form 1041.
Assist the attorney and estate accountant with the preparation of federal estate tax returns, including Form 706, when applicable.
Maintain and reconcile estate and trust receipts, disbursements, expenses, reimbursements, reserves, escrow activity, and distributions.
Accountings and Distributions
Prepare formal or informal estate and trust accountings and reconcile them to supporting financial records.
Prepare distribution schedules, receipts and releases, family settlement agreements, and other closing documents under attorney supervision.
Coordinate interim and final distributions after legal, tax, creditor, real estate, and reserve requirements have been addressed.
Support ongoing and post-death trust administration, including recordkeeping, accountings, tax coordination, beneficiary communications, and distributions.
Complete final correspondence, file review, and closing procedures.
Qualifications & Success
The right person brings a strong foundation, a willingness to learn, and a genuine commitment to serving clients and supporting the team.
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Required Qualifications
Education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Experience: Minimum of 2 years of experience in Pennsylvania estate or trust administration in a law firm, accounting firm, bank trust department, or comparable professional environment.
Thorough understanding of probate and non-probate assets.
Working knowledge of Pennsylvania probate procedures, inventories, inheritance tax returns, creditor matters, accountings, distributions, and estate closing.
Ability to understand how asset ownership, titling, beneficiary relationships, and real estate interests affect estate administration and inheritance-tax reporting.
Strong numerical, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple matters and competing deadlines with accuracy, discretion, and consistent follow-through.
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Ability to learn and effectively use Clio and other legal, tax, accounting, and document-management technology.
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Preferred Qualifications
Education: An associate degree or relevant postsecondary certificate in Paralegal Studies, Legal Studies, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field. Comparable industry training and directly related experience will also be considered.
Licensure: Active Pennsylvania Notary Public commission
Experience with Lackner 6-in-1 Estate and Trust Administration software and InheriTax.
Experience with Clio or another legal case-management platform.
Experience preparing Pennsylvania inheritance tax returns and estate or trust accountings.
Familiarity with Pennsylvania Registers of Wills, Orphans’ Court practice, and county-specific procedures.
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What Success Looks Like
Matters progress steadily from opening through closing.
Probate filings, inheritance tax returns, accountings, real estate transactions, and distributions are completed accurately and on time for attorney review.
Probate and non-probate assets are correctly identified, documented, and addressed.
Electronic files are complete, consistently organized, properly named, and easy for the team to review.
Financial, escrow, real estate, and distribution records reconcile to supporting documentation.
Potential issues are identified early and escalated appropriately.
Clients and fiduciaries receive clear, compassionate, and timely communication.
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The Ideal Candidate
Detail-oriented, dependable, and takes pride in high quality work.
A team player with a positive and professional attitude.
Comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Committed to excellent client service.
Maintains the highest standards of integrity and confidentiality.
Employment, Growth & Benefits
Compensation &
Bonus
Compensation is based on experience and qualifications. Eligible notaries receive a $500 annual bonus.
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Health &
Paid Time Off
Employer-sponsored employee health insurance, dental and vision insurance, paid time off, and paid holidays are available.
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Relocation
Support
A relocation stipend is available for an exceptional candidate.
Professional
Growth
Build your expertise through continued education, increased responsibility, career development, and professional networking.
