Safe Harbor Wills & Trusts is a growing estate planning and elder law firm serving families throughout Central and Northern New York. We help clients protect what they have built, prepare for the unexpected, and make difficult legal and financial decisions with greater confidence.

We are building a law firm that combines excellent legal work with exceptional client service and strong, efficient systems. Our team handles estate planning, probate and trust administration, Medicaid planning, guardianship, and related elder law matters.

We are not a traditional law office where files sit on desks waiting for someone to tell you what to do next. We value people who take ownership of their work, communicate well, solve problems, meet deadlines, and keep matters moving forward.

As our practice continues to grow, we are looking for experienced professionals who want to grow with us. We offer an environment where capable team members are trusted with meaningful responsibility, encouraged to improve the way we work, and recognized for producing great results for the clients we serve.

Position

Probate Paralegal

We are seeking an experienced Contract Probate & Estate Administration Paralegal to assist our growing probate and estate administration practice.

This is not an entry-level position. The successful candidate should already understand probate and estate administration and be comfortable taking ownership of assigned matters without requiring extensive training or step-by-step direction.

We are looking for someone who can step into existing active files, quickly determine where each matter stands, identify what needs to happen next, and move those files toward completion with limited attorney supervision. We are looking for an experienced professional who can help us increase capacity, reduce file backlog, and move matters through the administration process more efficiently while maintaining a high level of client service.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced probate paralegal who prefers contract work, project-based assignments, or the flexibility of working with an established and growing estate planning and elder law practice. Work may include an ongoing portfolio of assigned probate and estate administration files rather than isolated projects. The position could lead to full-time employment for the right candidate. Our probate practice is growing, and we are looking for an experienced paralegal who can help us increase capacity by taking responsibility for an existing caseload.

You may be assigned a matter that is already several months into administration. Your job will be to review the file, understand what has been completed, identify outstanding issues, develop the next steps, and keep the matter moving.

If you are organized, accountable, client-focused, and enjoy being part of a team that is continually improving, you may be a great fit for Safe Harbor Wills & Trusts.

Depending upon the file, responsibilities may include:

• Reviewing existing probate and estate administration files and determining current status

• Identifying missing documents, information, signatures, filings, or follow-up items

• Preparing probate and administration petitions and related Surrogate's Court filings

• Preparing waivers, consents, affidavits, notices, citations, receipts and releases, and other estate documents

• Following up with clients, fiduciaries, beneficiaries, courts, banks, financial institutions, and other professionals

• Assisting with the collection, transfer, and distribution of estate assets

• Obtaining asset values and other financial information

• Tracking deadlines, court requirements, and outstanding tasks

• Assisting with inventories and accountings

• Coordinating beneficiary distributions and final documentation

• Moving stalled or aging files toward resolution and closing

• Maintaining accurate file notes and task lists

• Identifying legal or unusual issues that require attorney review

We are looking for someone with substantial hands-on probate and estate administration experience.

The right person will be able to open an existing file and answer:

Where are we? What is missing? What needs to happen next? And what can I handle without involving the attorney?

Applicants should:

• Have significant experience handling probate and estate administration matters

• Be comfortable taking over matters that are already in progress

• Understand the estate administration process from probate or appointment through final distribution and closing

• Be able to work independently with limited supervision

• Be proactive rather than waiting for assignments or detailed instructions

• Have excellent organizational and follow-up skills

• Be able to manage multiple matters and competing deadlines

• Communicate professionally with clients, beneficiaries, courts, attorneys, and financial institutions

• Produce accurate and thorough work

• Know when attorney involvement is necessary and when it is not

New York probate and Surrogate's Court experience is strongly preferred. Experience with New York Surrogate's Court procedures and electronic filing systems is particularly valuable.

Our probate and estate administration practice is growing.