Tax, Trusts, and Estates Paralegal

Active Consulting Services LLC; Roseland (NJ); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Active Consulting Services LLC is seeking an experienced Tax, Trusts & Estates Paralegal to support our attorneys in Roseland, NJ. The role emphasizes estate administration, trust administration, and tax-related matters for high-net-worth clients.

The successful candidate will handle probate filings, fiduciary documents, and tax return support, coordinating with attorneys, fiduciaries, and advisors in a law firm environment. This is a full-time on-site position with occasional overtime.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or Paralegal Certificate required.
• 7+ years of experience in Trusts & Estates or Tax Paralegal role.
• Experience handling estate/trust administration from inception to close.
• Familiarity with probate and surrogate court filings.
• Strong MS Office skills and ability to manage confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Assist attorneys with estate, trust, tax, and business succession planning.
• Prepare probate, fiduciary, and tax filings and supporting docs.
• Draft estate/trust administration documents and beneficiary communications.
• Gather and organize financial records for tax returns and compliance.
• Coordinate asset valuations and prepare accountings and schedules.
• Support IRS filings and fiduciary income tax matters.
• Assist with Form 706, Form 709, and related schedules.
• Support business formation, charitable planning, and transactional matters.
• Liaise with clients, accountants, advisers, trustees, and government agencies.
• Maintain matter files, calendars, and billing documentation.

Skills

Estate administration

Tax compliance

Attention to detail

Communication

Organization

Notary Public (preferred)

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree or Paralegal Certificate

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Estate planning software

Accounting systems

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Tax, Trusts & Estates Paralegal to support attorneys in our sophisticated Tax, Trusts & Estates practice. This is a full-time position based in our Roseland office. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in estate administration, trust administration, and estate planning, with particular emphasis on tax-related matters. This role will support attorneys handling sophisticated estate and wealth transfer planning, trust and estate administration, estate and gift tax matters, fiduciary income tax matters, charitable planning, business succession planning, closely held business matters, and related tax compliance matters. The ideal candidate will have experience working with high-net-worth individuals, fiduciaries, family businesses, and professional advisors in a law firm environment.

Responsibilities:

• Assist attorneys with all phases of estate, trust, tax, and business succession planning matters.
• Prepare probate, surrogate court, fiduciary, and tax-related filings and supporting documentation.
• Draft estate and trust administration documents, correspondence, beneficiary communications, and estate planning questionnaires.
• Gather, review, and organize financial records for the preparation of estate, gift, inheritance, fiduciary, and income tax returns, and assist with related tax compliance filings.
• Coordinate asset valuations, maintain estate and trust inventories, prepare accountings and supporting schedules, and assist with trust funding, beneficiary distributions, and post-death administration.
• Obtain tax identification numbers, prepare related IRS filings, and support tax controversy, audit, and governmental agency matters.
• Assist with the preparation and organization of federal estate tax returns (Form 706), gift tax returns (Form 709), fiduciary income tax returns, and supporting schedules and documentation.
• Assist with business entity formation, organizational documents, corporate records, business succession planning, charitable planning, and related transactional matters.
• Serve as a liaison with clients, accountants, financial advisors, trustees, executors, beneficiaries, and government agencies regarding estate, trust, and tax matters.
• Maintain matter files, calendars, filing deadlines, billing documentation, time records, and other administrative requirements in accordance with firm policies.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and/or Paralegal Certificate.
• 7+ years of experience as a Trusts & Estates or Tax Paralegal, preferably in a law firm environment.
• Experience supporting estate and trust administration matters from inception through closing.
• Experience assisting with estate, inheritance, gift, fiduciary income tax, and related tax filings preferred.
• Familiarity with probate procedures and surrogate court filings.
• Knowledge of trusts, wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and related estate planning documents.
• Experience gathering and organizing financial and tax information for attorneys and accountants.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to handle confidential information.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining a collaborative, team-oriented approach.
• Notary Public designation, or willingness to obtain one, preferred.
• Familiarity with estate tax preparation software and accounting systems is a plus.
• Willingness to work overtime, including occasional evenings and weekends, as needed.