Estate Administration & Probate Paralegal

Carolina Estate Planning; Winston-Salem (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Carolina Estate Planning is seeking an Estate Administration & Probate Paralegal to bring order and momentum to complex probate matters. You will guide estates through probate, work with Clerk of Court, banks, and CPAs, ensuring filings, inventories, and distributions are accurate and timely.

Under attorney supervision with support from the Legal Production Case Manager, you’ll own a probate caseload, collaborate with the team, and contribute to a fast‑growing firm that values precision,

Qualifications

• 3–5 years as a paralegal in estate administration or probate
• Hands-on experience preparing probate filings and working with the Clerk of Court
• Paralegal certificate or degree from an accredited program
• Working knowledge of North Carolina probate and estate administration law
• Detail-oriented and organized; misses have real consequences for families
• Clear and compassionate communication with clients
• Ability to manage multiple open matters independently while following attorney direction
• Experience with legal case management software; probate-specific platforms are a plus

Responsibilities

• 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 and information
• Assist clients with required forms and next steps in the process
• Communicate with clients, personal representatives, and beneficiaries professionally throughout the administration
• Monitor case deadlines, court dates, and milestones to keep matters on track
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date client files in the firm’s case management system
• Provide clients with regular updates on case status
• Enter billable and non-billable time accurately and promptly
• Conduct legal research on NC probate and estate administration law
• Prepare documents and memos for attorney review
• Collaborate with attorneys, the Legal Production Case Manager, and fellow paralegals
• Participate in weekly case status meetings
• Triage and prioritize emails, tasks, and calendar items daily

Skills

detail-oriented

organized

clear communication

multi-tasking

case management software

Education

Paralegal certificate or degree

Tools

Legal case management software

Estate planning/probate platforms

Job description

About this position

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.

Compensation

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

Responsibilities

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

Qualifications

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• 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

Who You Are

• 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

About Company

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.