Estate Planning Paralegals: What They Do for Wills and Trusts
BestParalegals is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Information here is general and may not apply to your situation or state. For legal advice, consult a licensed attorney.
Estate planning paralegals prepare and organize the documents behind wills, trusts, powers of attorney and probate cases. In most states they work under an attorney who signs off on the legal advice.
Typical tasks
| Area | What a paralegal may do |
|---|---|
| Wills and trusts | Collect your asset and family information, draft documents from attorney templates, prepare signing packets |
| Powers of attorney and health care directives | Prepare forms and coordinate signing and notarization |
| Trust funding | Help retitle accounts and deeds into a trust, at the attorney's direction |
| Probate and administration | Prepare court filings, inventories and notices; track deadlines |
What they can't do
A paralegal can't decide which documents you need or how to structure your plan; that's legal advice. Signing formalities for wills (such as witnesses and notarization) vary by state, so errors can make a document invalid. Make sure a licensed attorney reviews the plan.
Questions to ask
- Which attorney supervises your work, and will they meet with me?
- Is the fee flat or hourly, and what does it include?
- Who supervises the signing ceremony?
- Will you help fund the trust after it's signed?
Related
See paralegal services explained and hiring a freelance paralegal.
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