Senior Trust & Estate Paralegal

gpac; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

GPAC seeks an experienced Trust & Estate Paralegal to join a sophisticated estate and wealth planning practice in Chicago. This role focuses on estate/trust administration, tax preparation, and supporting attorneys in complex planning matters.

A candidate with several years of direct Trust & Estate experience is required to contribute immediately. Key duties include handling Form 1040, 1041, 709, and 706 returns, coordinating with fiduciaries and beneficiaries, and moving administrations forward

Qualifications

• Several years of substantive Trust & Estate experience.
• Experience with Form 1040, 1041, 709 and 706 tax returns.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Assist with estate and trust administration, including gathering and valuing assets, maintaining records and accountings, and assisting with distributions.
• Support attorneys with sophisticated estate planning matters, including gifting strategies and wealth transfer planning.
• Prepare and/or substantially assist with individual and fiduciary tax returns (1040, 1041, 709, 706).

Skills

Estate planning

Trust administration

Tax preparation

Client coordination

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Trust & Estate Paralegal to step into a sophisticated estate planning and wealth planning practice.

This is not a litigation position nor is it a legal assistant role.

The work is centered on estate and trust administration, tax preparation, and supporting attorneys who advise individuals and families on sophisticated estate and wealth planning matters. We need someone with several years of direct Trust & Estate experience who can step into an established practice and contribute immediately.

Candidates should have hands-on experience preparing and/or substantially assisting with:

• Form 1040 - Individual Income Tax Returns
• Form 1041 - Fiduciary Income Tax Returns
• Form 709 - Gift Tax Returns
• Form 706 - Estate Tax Returns

Beyond tax preparation, this person will work extensively with estate and trust administration, including gathering and valuing assets, maintaining records and accountings, assisting with distributions, coordinating with fiduciaries and beneficiaries, and handling the documentation and filings necessary to move administrations forward.

The position also supports attorneys with sophisticated estate planning matters involving trusts, gifting strategies, wealth transfer, tax planning, and related planning for individuals and families.

We Need Experience

We are looking for someone who already understands this work rather than someone who needs to be trained in Trusts & Estates.

The Right Candidate Should Have

• Several years of substantive Trust & Estate experience
• Strong estate and trust administration experience
• Meaningful experience with 1040, 1041, 709 and 706 tax returns
• Familiarity with sophisticated estate and wealth planning
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• The ability to work directly with attorneys, clients, fiduciaries, accountants, financial advisors, and other professionals
• The experience and judgment to independently move matters forward

We are looking for someone who understands the tax, administration, and planning side of Trusts & Estates and is comfortable working with sophisticated matters from day one.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.

GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.