Estate Planning Paralegal

Burnett Specialists Staffing | Recruiting; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading legal staffing firm in Houston is seeking an experienced Estate Planning & Probate Paralegal to support attorneys with estate planning document preparation and probate filings. The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 4 years of paralegal experience in a law firm setting, with strong knowledge of estate planning documents, probate procedures, and excellent organizational skills. This position demands attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple deadlines in a professional legal environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years of paralegal experience in a law firm.
• 2+ years of estate planning and/or probate experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of estate planning documents and probate process.

Responsibilities

• Draft and prepare estate planning documents including wills and trusts.
• Assist in preparation and filing of probate documents.
• Communicate with clients and court personnel professionally.

Skills

Estate Planning Documents

Probate Process

Organization

Microsoft Office

Legal Billing Software

Education

Associate's or Bachelor's degree

Paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved program

Tools

iManage

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Overview

Join a highly respected, long-established Houston law firm supporting sophisticated estate planning and probate matters for high-net-worth clients. We are seeking an experienced Estate Planning & Probate Paralegal to support attorneys with estate planning document preparation, probate filings, and trust/estate administration. This is an excellent opportunity for a detail-driven paralegal who enjoys managing deadlines, working directly with clients, and producing high-quality work in a professional legal environment. This role is fully in-office, Monday through Friday, with occasional overtime (not typical).

Location: Houston, TX | In-Office Monday–Friday
Salary: $80,000 – $95,000 (based on experience)
Schedule: 8:30 AM–5:30 PM or 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Billable Hours Goal: 1,500 annually

Key Responsibilities

• Draft and prepare estate planning documents including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives
• Assist in preparation and filing of probate documents and court filings
• Coordinate signing meetings, notary services, and document execution
• Review and analyze financial documents, beneficiary designations, and asset information
• Support estate and trust administration including marshaling assets, inventories, and distributions
• Communicate with clients, financial institutions, and court personnel professionally and courteously
• Maintain and organize physical and digital client files in accordance with firm procedures
• Track deadlines and manage calendars for filings, trust funding, and key case milestones
• Assist attorneys with research, correspondence, and tax-related estate/trust forms (Form 706, Form 709, etc.)
• Track billable time daily (annual goal of 1,500 hours)
• Provide general administrative and legal support as needed

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years of paralegal experience (law firm required)
• 2+ years of estate planning and/or probate experience preferred
• Must have prior experience as an Estate Planning Paralegal in a private law firm environment
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved program is a plus
• Strong knowledge of estate planning documents, probate process, and trust administration
• Familiarity with court filing systems and probate procedures
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and legal billing software
• Experience with iManage or other document management systems is a plus
• Exceptional organization, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple deadlines
• High degree of discretion and confidentiality

Note: This description reflects the ongoing responsibilities and requirements and does not include any extraneous or duplicate copy from the original listing.