COURT SUPPORT SPECIALIST II - PROBATE

Dorchester County; St. George (SC); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Dorchester County is seeking a Probate Court Clerk to perform a range of clerical duties and provide courteous customer service in the Probate Court office. This role supports the Probate Judge under general supervision, greeting families, attorneys, and the public, handling filings, payments, and front desk inquiries.

The position requires high school graduation or GED and at least two years of related experience.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong customer service and front desk skills preferred.

Responsibilities

• Greet visitors and manage the front desk for the Probate Court.
• Process filings and assist with answering questions.
• Handle inquiries from families and attorneys by phone or in person.
• Develop working knowledge of probate, mental health, and guardianship procedures.
• Process marriage licenses and respond to related inquiries.
• Maintain Excel log of inquiries.
• Set up the courtroom prior to hearings and ensure proper check-in.
• Upload recordings of hearings.
• Handle deposits and various payments.
• Organize mail and file documents daily.
• Prepare case folders and assist with supplies.

Skills

Customer service

Front desk

Clerical tasks

Education

High School Graduation or GED equivalent

Tools

Excel

Job description

The purpose of this job is to perform a variety of routine-to-moderately complex clerical work in the preparation and maintenance of department records, to perform a variety of clerical tasks as assigned, and to provide professional and courteous customer service at all times.

This position works under general supervision, independently developing work methods and sequences.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Works directly for Probate Judge assisting in all administrative capacities. The Probate Judge is an elected official position.
• First greeter for families and attorneys coming to the Probate Court.
  • Manage the front desk by greeting visitors, collecting filings, and assisting with answering questions.
  • Proper professional attire required as the Court Support Specialist II is often the “first” encounter with the Probate Court.
  • Maintain Excel log of families and attorneys who have specific inquiries at the front window.
• Often, first to handle general phone line by handling phone calls from families and attorneys, answering questions, or transferring calls to appropriate office personnel.
• Develop and maintain a working knowledge of the basic requirements and procedures related to probate, mental health, and guardianship/conservatorship proceedings.
• Manage marriage licenses by processing new marriage applications and payments, identifying errors, issuing certified marriage licenses, and answering related questions.
• Review returned marriage licenses and send appropriate copies to DHEC.
• Develop and maintain proficiency in navigating and utilizing the ICON case management system.
• Must be able to utilize the online probate search website for public view of files both in Dorchester and for other counties to be able to assist with questions about marriage licenses.
• Set up the Courtroom prior to hearings and ensure parties have checked in.
  • Maintain an orderly courtroom include the bench for the Judges and the seating area for families and attorneys.
  • Must greet all parties and attorneys professionally.
• Upload recordings of hearings into the case management system.
• Handle deposits including cash, check, money order, and credit card transactions.
• Organize mail daily, distribute mail to appropriate office personnel, and send outgoing mail from the Probate Court.
  • Develop understanding of various legal documents and identify the documents that must be date-stamped for Clerks’ and Judges’ review.
• Prepare folders for new cases and file case folders.
• File daily to ensure hard copies of documents are in the proper file.
• Assist with assessing and ordering necessary supplies for the Probate Court office.
• Assist the Judge with delegation of duties daily as the need arises.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

• High School Graduation or GED equivalent.
• Two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special Qualifications, Certifications and Licenses

• None.

Unavoidable Hazards (Work Environment)

Work is performed dealing with crisis situations that require making major decisions involving people, resources, and property.

Dorchester County has the right to revise this job description at any time. This description does not represent in any way a contract of employment.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position; typical work hours and days are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Some flexibility in hours is allowed, but employees must be available during the “core” work hours of 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and must work 40 hours each week to maintain full-time status. Employees must be available to work evenings, weekends and holidays during emergencies or as requested.

E.O.E. Dorchester County does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability or military service in employment or the provision of services.