Estate Administration & Probate Paralegal

Job Description

Job Description

We are looking for an Estate Administration & Probate Paralegal who thrives on bringing order and momentum to complex, deadline-driven cases. This role is focused on the administration side of our practice — guiding estates through probate, working closely with the Clerk of Court, financial institutions, and CPAs, and making sure every filing, inventory, and distribution is accurate and on time.

You will work directly under the supervision of our attorneys, with additional coordination and support from our Legal Production Case Manager, who oversees workflow across all three of our practice areas (Estate Planning, Probate, and Fiduciary Litigation). This is a role for someone with hands-on probate experience who wants ownership of a caseload and a clear path to grow within a well-run, fast-growing firm.

$65,000 - $70,000 base salary plus quarterly performance incentive bonus

Probate & Estate Administration Case Work

• Prepare and file core probate documents, including Notices to Creditors, inventories, accountings, and proposed distributions

• Submit and track court filings and deadlines with the Clerk of Court

• Coordinate with financial institutions, title companies, and CPAs to gather assets, resolve creditor claims, and finalize distributions

• Interview clients and personal representatives to gather facts, documents, and information needed to move estates forward

• Assist clients with completing required forms and understanding next steps in the process

Client & Case Management

• Communicate with clients, personal representatives, and beneficiaries professionally and compassionately throughout the administration process

• Monitor case deadlines, court dates, and milestones to keep every matter on track

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date client files and records in the firm's case management system

• Provide clients with regular, clear updates on case status

• Enter billable and non-billable time accurately and promptly

Legal Research & Team Collaboration

• Conduct legal research on North Carolina probate and estate administration law, including new or novel issues as they arise

• Prepare documents and memos for attorney review

• Collaborate with attorneys, the Legal Production Case Manager, and fellow paralegals to keep casework moving efficiently

• Participate in weekly case status meetings

• Triage and prioritize emails, tasks, and calendar items daily

• Filings, inventories, and accountings are accurate, complete, and submitted on time

• Estates move through probate efficiently, with no deadlines missed and no loose ends left untracked

• Clients and personal representatives feel informed and supported through a difficult process

• 120 billable hours per month are consistently met

• Files and records are always current, organized, and audit-ready

• You have 3–5 years of experience as a paralegal working in estate administration and/or probate

• You have hands-on experience preparing probate filings and working with the Clerk of Court

• You hold a paralegal certificate or degree from an accredited program

• You have working knowledge of North Carolina probate and estate administration law

• You are detail-oriented and organized — you know that a missed deadline or an inaccurate filing has real consequences for real families

• You communicate clearly and compassionately with clients who are often navigating loss or difficult family situations

• You can manage multiple open matters independently while staying responsive to attorney direction

• Experience with legal case management software is required; experience with estate planning or probate-specific platforms is a plus

At Carolina Estate Planning, we don't just practice law — we make people's lives better. We've built a culture where talented people thrive. That means genuine work-life balance, open and honest feedback, and a leadership team that's invested in your personal, professional, and financial success.

Our core values:

• Integrity — We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, always.
• Everyone Gets Helped — Great legal work ripples outward. We show up fully for every person we encounter — client or not — because we're in the business of making people's lives better.
• 100% Accountability — We own our actions and our outcomes, no excuses. That standard applies at every level of the firm.
• Growth Mindset — We're committed to continuous learning and helping every team member reach their full potential.
• Rigor — The difference between good and exceptional lives in the details. We hold ourselves to a standard that sets us apart.