Trust & Estates Attorney

Trust & Estates Attorney (LLM in Taxation or CPA Needed) Position Overview: We are seeking an experienced Trust & Estates Attorney to join our law firm to provide comprehensive counseling and representation in all aspects of trusts, estates, probate, and elder law. The ideal candidate will manage complex estate planning matters, prepare and administer trusts and estates, draft wills and related documents, advise fiduciaries and clients on tax‑efficient strategies, and represent clients in probate and trust litigation when needed. This role requires strong technical knowledge of estate and gift taxation, fiduciary duties, and court procedures, coupled with excellent client counseling and case‑management skills. Key Responsibilities Advise clients on estate planning strategies, including wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives. Draft, review, and execute estate planning documents (wills, trust agreements, trust funding instruments, pourover wills, healthcare directives, and financial powers of attorney). Design and implement tax‑aware estate plans including estate tax planning, gift tax planning, generation‑skipping transfer tax strategies, basis step‑up analysis, and charitable planning structures. Prepare and review trust and fiduciary accounting, trust reporting, and estate administration records; ensure compliance with fiduciary duties and state law. Manage probate and estate settlement matters, including filings, inventory, creditor notices, and distribution of assets; prepare and file Estate and Gift Tax Returns (Form 706, Form 709) as required. Represent fiduciaries and beneficiaries in probate, trust litigation, trust reformation and modification, guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, and related court appearances. Advise clients on Medicaid/long‑term care planning, asset protection planning, family limited partnerships, business succession planning, and life insurance planning for estate liquidity. Coordinate with tax advisors, financial planners, trustees, and other professionals to implement estate plans and settlement strategies. Perform legal and tax research using Westlaw/LexisNexis; analyze complex tax and trust issues and produce clear memoranda and client advice. Use estate planning software (e.g., HotDocs, WealthCounsel), e‑signature tools (DocuSign), and practice management platforms (Clio, PracticePanther) to prepare documents and manage client matters. Provide high‑quality client counseling, maintain client relationships, and ensure compliance with regulatory and ethical obligations. Qualifications Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and admission to the state bar in good standing. 5+ years of hands‑on experience practicing trust and estate law; experience can include private practice, boutique trust firms, or estate planning groups within larger firms. Demonstrated expertise in trust administration, probate, estate planning, will drafting, and fiduciary accounting and reporting. Strong knowledge of federal estate and gift tax rules, including Form 706 and Form 709 preparation, generation‑skipping transfer tax, gift tax planning, and basis step‑up/tax basis analysis. Experience with irrevocable trusts, special needs planning, Medicaid/long‑term care planning, asset protection strategies, charitable planning, and family limited partnerships. Litigation experience in trust and estate disputes, probate court procedures, guardianship and conservatorship matters, trust reformation/modification, and elder law preferred. Proficiency in legal research tools (Westlaw, LexisNexis) and estate planning/document automation software (HotDocs, WealthCounsel); familiarity with DocuSign and practice management software (Clio, PracticePanther). Strong drafting skills for trusts, wills, powers of attorney, advance directives, fiduciary accountings, and tax filings; excellent analytical, written and oral communication skills. Ability to manage multiple matters, mentor junior attorneys and staff, bill accurately, and maintain high standards of client service and compliance. Tax research skills and comfort coordinating with accountants and tax advisors; experience preparing or reviewing estate and gift tax returns is highly desirable. Benefits Subsidized health insurance premiums HSA contributions ranging from $600 to $1,200 annually 100% paid employee premium for dental insurance; inexpensive options for dependents 100% paid employee premium for vision insurance; inexpensive options for dependents Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Account options Life Insurance (paid by firm) Long‑Term Disability Insurance (paid by firm) Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Traditional and Roth 401(k) options from day one; eligible for discretionary firm matching contribution #J-18808-Ljbffr CyberCoders