Placer County

To provide responsible administrative and technical support for program operations by coordinating, planning, administering, reviewing, and investigating cases referred for deceased persons estate administration which come under the legal jurisdiction of the Public Administrator, including locating, inventorying, and liquidating assets, making funeral arrangements, and preparing reports and probated documents.

Receives general supervision from supervisory or management staff of assigned work unit/department and may receive technical and functional supervision from professional staff.

May exercise technical and functional supervision over assigned clerical staff.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Conduct estate investigations to locate heirs, relatives, and all estate assets, including real property, personal property, wills, trusts, and financial accounts through on-site searches, correspondence, and interviews.
• Interview, advise, and confer with heirs, relatives, attorneys, title companies, banks, appraisers, accountants, and other public agencies to obtain and provide information concerning the administration and probate of estates.
• Collect monies and other estate assets, including Social Security benefits, Veterans’ benefits, and life insurance, to pay estate debts and to disburse to heirs.
• Inventory and obtain preliminary appraisals of all estate assets, facilitate securing estate assets and the storage/safekeeping of all transportable property, and management of real property.
• Perform and/or assist in the removal and storage of personal and real property; store and maintain property as appropriate in a storage facility, safe, or other appropriate manner.
• Arrange for disposition of final remains and coordinate funeral services.
• Complete mandated reports based on researching and compiling information.
• Prepare legal documents and file court papers and summaries.
• Prepare correspondence and reports; document, track, and monitor contacts and activities; establish and maintain accurate case files.
• Review and evaluate pertinent legislation, laws, codes, and administrative regulations to ensure program effectiveness and compliance with the requirements.
• May train and provide technical supervision to clerical staff.
• Work closely with outside agencies such as the Sheriff-Coroner, funeral homes, hospitals, nursing homes, attorneys, public agencies, banks, and real estate agents.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Work is typically performed in an indoor office environment with controlled temperature conditions and/or in the field with varying weather conditions. Duties may be performed in a decedent’s residence in close proximity to refuse, odors, and undesirable conditions.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Three (3) years of recent work experience in probate of estates, legal guardianship, conservatorship, estate management, or social work.

Or:

Three (3) years of technical experience in estate administration or management, or related investigatory experience involving the investigation of assets in such fields as trusts, probates, insurance, or banking.

Training: Equivalent to completion of an AA degree with major coursework in business or public administration, legal assisting, social services, or a closely related field.

Required License or Certificate:

• May need to possess a valid driver’s license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
• Completion of California Association of Public Administrators/Public Guardians/Public Conservators certification is highly desirable.
• Designated positions may require eligibility for bonding as required by the State of California.

Knowledge of:

• Laws, regulations, and codes related to probate and estate management.
• Principals, practices, and methods used in estate management, estate and financial investigations, title searching, real property recording, real and personal property sales, transfers, and appraisal methods and terminology, banking, and other financial procedures.
• Procedures for locating, securing, and disposing of assets.
• Investigative interviewing techniques.
• Basic concepts involved in wills, insurance policies, deeds, and contracts.
• Policies and procedures related to estate accounting.
• Standard office practices and procedures.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job and observe safety rules; intermittently analyze and review work papers, reports, and special projects; identify and interpret technical information; identify safety hazards; locate equipment and supplies; observe and problem solve operational and technical policies and procedure; understand and explain department policies and procedures to families and the general public.
• On an continuous basis, sit at a desk for long periods of time or while driving; intermittently walk, stand, bend, squat, or kneel while retrieving or returning files, documents and supplies and making copies; walk, stand, bend, squat, kneel, climb, or twist while conducting home/site visits; twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; see and hear with sufficient acuity to observe and assess environment; and lift moderate weight.
• Perform physical tasks such as moving and lifting objects on an intermittent basis.
• Read, interpret, explain, and apply laws, regulations, and procedures related to probate and public administration.
• Analyze complex public administration situations and develop sound recommendations.
• Administer the estates of decedents, including managing real property and safekeeping personal effects.
• Conduct investigations and gather information on financial resources, real property, and other assets of deceased person, including the location of heirs or other interested parties.
• Recognize and analyze problems, gather relevant data, establish facts, and draw relevant conclusions.
• Establish and maintain systematic records including business, tax, and inventory records.
• Read and interpret complex legal documents.
• Prepare concise written and oral reports, correspondence, and documents.
• Perform more complex legal research and writing; identify more complex legal issues for further study.
• Organize and prioritize work, meet critical time deadlines ,and follow up on assignments with minimal supervision.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Obtain information through interviews; deal courteously and tactfully with the public including any interactions with distraught persons in difficult personal situations.
• Handle multiple cases and assignments; work effectively with interruption.
• Establish and maintain effecting working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Use a personal computer and office equipment necessary for successful job performance.

Length of Probation:

• All permanent appointments to this classification shall serve a probationary period of twelve (12) calendar months or two thousand eighty (2,080) hours, whichever is more.

Bargaining Unit:

• General