Estate Planning, Probate & Elder Law Paralegal

Would you like to provide individuals and families peace of mind by guiding them in preparing for and navigating life’s transitions?

We seek an experienced paralegal with solid communication and organizational skills for our Kenosha office who can immediately support Wisconsin estate planning, probate, trust administration, and/or elder law matters without substantive legal training. Prior experience with trust funding for revocable and irrevocable trusts is highly desired. With continued firm growth, the practice area scope of this position will likely narrow.

This is an in-house position based in our Kenosha office. We are looking for someone who can be in the office regularly to work closely with our clients and the rest of our team.

We are looking for a tech-savvy individual who can quickly learn new software/systems and is comfortable in a low-paper environment. The ability to communicate in a caring and professional manner is vital.

A successful candidate must be dependable, a self-starter, organized, have exceptional attention to detail, and can jump in to work on projects immediately. We are a small team, so adaptability and willingness to assist wherever needed are crucial. The need for our services is great, so there are opportunities for professional growth and advancement.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Perform initial intake and maintain relationships with clients throughout the planning and administration process; serve as a liaison between the clients and the attorney.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date client records, ensuring all notes and documents are properly organized and filed.
• Collaborate with the attorney to prepare, review, and revise estate and elder law planning documents and communications, including trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and other advance directives.
• Guide and assist clients in the trust funding process.
• Lead or participate in estate planning and probate signing meetings.
• Prepare and organize pooled trust (Wispact/Life Navigators) and Medicaid applications.
• Prepare guardianship, probate, and trust administration documents, including petitions, orders, applications, inventories, accountings, receipts, and tax returns.
• Assist with administering estates and trusts, including asset gathering, client and beneficiary communication, and distributions to beneficiaries.
• Communicate with Register in Probate offices and court staff.
• Communicate professionally and empathetically with clients, family members, beneficiaries, financial institutions, and other parties.
• Coordinate and manage appointments, deadlines, and court appearances.
• Conduct legal research to support the attorney in addressing individual client circumstances and stay current on estate planning and elder law developments and law changes.
• Participate in firm-wide efforts to maintain client relationships and promote the firm's reputation in the community.
• Contribute to continuously improving internal processes and procedures to enhance efficiency and client experience.

Qualifications

• Three or more years of experience as a paralegal, focusing on estate planning, probate, trust administration, and/or elder law, with significant experience in Wisconsin. Five or more years is preferred.
• Associate’s degree or bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or business administration is desired. A paralegal degree or certificate is a plus.
• Knowledge of Wisconsin estate planning and elder law, including special needs planning.
• Knowledge of and experience with Wisconsin’s summary probate procedures in addition to informal and formal probate is a plus.
• Experience preparing asset transfer and gathering documents such as stock transfer forms, life insurance surrender and claim forms, and deeds.
• Prior experience preparing Wispact, Life Navigators, and Medicaid applications.
• Familiarity with individual and fiduciary income tax. The ability to handle first-level preparation of basic returns is a plus.
• Proficiency in drafting legal documents and understanding legal terminology.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational abilities.
• Client-centered focus and compassionate and empathetic for individuals facing difficult situations or loss.
• Highly adaptable and takes pride in handling routine administrative/office management tasks with the same enthusiasm and care as more substantive paralegal tasks.
• Exceptional professionalism, the highest ethical standards, and confidentiality for all client matters.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
• Strong time management skills and ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
• Notary public or willingness and ability to obtain within 60 days of hire.
• Experience tracking billable time and expenses and the ability to meet or exceed firm billing requirements.
• Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Systems & Programs

• Microsoft Windows — required
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) — required
• Adobe Acrobat Pro, Power PDF Advanced, or similar PDF software — required
• NetDocuments or similar document management platform — preferred
• WealthDocx and ElderDocx drafting platforms — preferred
• Microsoft Teams — preferred
• Actionstep or similar law practice management system — preferred
• Drake Tax or similar tax preparation software — preferred
• EstateVal or similar valuation tools — preferred

Benefits

• Competitive salary; compensation is based on experience and ability to get integrated into firm quickly. We are seeking a paralegal who can independently manage substantive estate planning, probate, trust administration, and client-facing work. Candidates with significant Wisconsin experience who can create leverage for the attorney and help improve firm systems will be considered at the upper end of the range.
• Retirement savings plan.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Flexible work environment (35–40 hours/wk); half-day Fridays available.
• Free parking.

This position requires the successful completion of a background check.

Instructions to Apply

To be considered for this position, please provide your professional resume, 2–3 professional references (which will only be contacted if there is mutual interest to move forward), and a cover letter in standard business letter format using a 12-point font addressed to:

Angela Frozena Frozena Law LLC 6633 Green Bay Rd., Ste. 4 Kenosha, WI 53142

Email application materials to: Sign in to view email

In your cover letter, please discuss all of the following:

• What interests you in this position;
• Your Wisconsin estate planning, probate, and/or elder law experience;
• Your compensation/salary expectations; and
• Anything else you think makes you the ideal candidate for this position.

To ensure a fair and efficient process, please submit your application through the provided channels. We will not be accepting phone calls or submissions through other channels.