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Probate Researcher Jobs in Utah (NOW HIRING)

Probate Researcher information

See Utah salary details

$27.3K

$103K

$149.8K

How much do probate researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for probate researcher in Utah is $102,965.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $61,000.00 and $140,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a probate researcher?

A probate researcher is a professional who locates and verifies information about deceased individuals' estates, such as assets, heirs, and legal documents, to assist in estate administration or legal proceedings. They often use public records, databases, and research skills to gather accurate data efficiently.

What are 5 potential jobs for genealogy?

Genealogy skills can lead to careers such as genealogist, probate researcher, historical researcher, family history consultant, or archivist. These roles involve researching family histories, legal estate matters, or preserving historical records, often requiring strong research skills and knowledge of genealogical tools and databases.

What is a Probate Researcher job?

A Probate Researcher traces heirs and beneficiaries of estates when someone passes away without a known will or next of kin. They investigate family trees, review legal documents, and use genealogical research to identify rightful heirs. Probate Researchers often work with solicitors, councils, or probate firms to ensure estates are distributed correctly. Their role requires analytical skills, attention to detail, and knowledge of inheritance laws.

What is a courthouse researcher?

A courthouse researcher is a professional who gathers public records and legal documents from courthouses, often related to property, probate, or legal cases. They use research skills and access to court databases to obtain accurate information for clients or legal purposes.

How to get a job in probate?

To become a probate researcher, you typically need a background in law, estate administration, or related fields, along with strong research and analytical skills. Gaining experience through internships or entry-level positions in legal or estate firms can be helpful, and familiarity with probate court procedures and legal databases is advantageous. Certification or training in estate law may improve job prospects in this specialized field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Probate Researcher position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Probate Researcher, you need strong research skills, attention to detail, and knowledge of genealogy and legal documentation, often supported by relevant experience or a background in legal studies or history. Familiarity with online public records databases, genealogy software, and document management systems is highly beneficial. Excellent communication, persistence, and analytical thinking are key soft skills that help build thorough and accurate case files. These skills and tools are essential for efficiently locating heirs and assets, ensuring the integrity and success of probate investigations.

What are some typical challenges a Probate Researcher faces in their daily work?

Probate Researchers often encounter incomplete or inaccurate records, uncooperative sources, and cases that require tracing complex family histories across different countries and languages. You may need to be persistent and creative in locating hard-to-find heirs or verifying information through various legal and historical documents. Collaboration with attorneys, courts, and sometimes international agencies is common, as is balancing multiple concurrent cases with differing levels of difficulty. These challenges make problem-solving skills and adaptability crucial for success and can offer a rewarding sense of accomplishment when a case is resolved.

What are the most commonly searched types of Probate Researcher jobs in Utah? The most popular types of Probate Researcher jobs in Utah are:
What are popular job titles related to Probate Researcher jobs in Utah? For Probate Researcher jobs in Utah, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Probate Researcher jobs in Utah look for? The top searched job categories for Probate Researcher jobs in Utah are:
What cities in Utah are hiring for Probate Researcher jobs? Cities in Utah with the most Probate Researcher job openings:
Infographic showing various Probate Researcher job openings in Utah as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $102,965 per year, or $49.5 per hour.

Legal Administrative Specialist (Probate)

US Department of the Interior

Fort Duchesne, UT • On-site

$42K/yr

Other

Posted 20 days ago


U.S. Department Of The Interior rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 14 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

409th of 836 rated public administrative organizations


Job description

This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Western Region in Fort Duchesne, Utah; Keams Canyon, Arizona; Phoenix, Arizona; Sacaton, Arizona.
This is a Bargaining Unit position, for more information see USA Jobs What are bargaining units?Qualifications:EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for Administrative and Management Positions, GS-0901).
GS-05:To qualify at the GS-05 level you must have 3 years of general experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates the ability to: analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; plan and organize work; and communicate effectively orally and in writing.
OR
Successfully completed 4 year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree. (One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours). (Note: Applicants who select this response must provide transcripts as verification of their education).
OR
Have a combination of education and experience described above, which meets 100% of the qualification requirements.
GS-07:To qualify at the GS-07 level you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include performing a variety of assignments to assist on probate cases, issues, and problems utilizing basic legal principles, research methods, and data analysis; maintaining administrative records that track probate proceedings, utilizing the basic knowledge of real and personal property legal principles and legal documents, and reviewing the accuracy and completeness of a probate case file.
OR
Have Superior Academic Achievement which included one of the following: 1) Class standing-applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class, based on completed courses; or (2) Grade-Point Average-applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (3) Election to membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society -membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. In order to be creditable under this provision, superior academic achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. (Note: Applicants who select this response must provide transcripts as verification of their education).
OR
Successfully completed one full year of appropriate graduate level education (18 semester hours, 27 quarter hours or equivalent) in a field of study directly related to the work of this position. (Note: Applicants who select this response must provide transcripts as verification of their education).
OR
Have a combination of education and experience described above, which meets 100% of the qualification requirements (Note: Applicants who select this response must provide transcripts as verification of their education).
GS-09: To qualify at the GS-09 level you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include performing routine work involving conventional probate cases, issues, and problems utilizing general legal principles, research methods, and data analysis; performing research for probate cases by conducting interviews with beneficiaries and interested parties, applying specialized knowledge of probate legal principles to evaluate factual documents and other information to determine the level of legal complexity in probate cases and assembling documentation into a probate case package, and verifying the accuracy and completeness of a probate case file and the decision.
OR
Have a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Note: Applicants who select this response must provide transcripts as verification of their education).
OR
Have a combination of education and experience described above, which meets 100% of the qualification requirements (Note: Applicants who select this response must provide transcripts as verification of their education).
GS-11:To qualify at the GS-11 level you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include performing work independently on wide variety of probate cases, issues, and problems utilizing a high degree of expertise; applying specialized knowledge of probate legal principles to evaluate factual documents to determine the level of legal complexity in probate cases and assembling documentation into a probate case package, performing extensive and thorough research of probate cases by conducting interviews with beneficiaries, interested parties, examining agencies, and records; reviewing probate cases by examining legal documents to verify ownership status, verifying the accuracy and completeness of a probate case file and probate decision, and inputting probate decisions into an automated system of record.
OR
Have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Note: Applicants who select this response must provide transcripts as verification of their education).
OR
Have a combination of education and experience described above, which meets 100% of the qualification requirements (Note: Applicants who select this response must provide transcripts as verification of their education).
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur in the same location within 90 days from the closing date.
Education:If you are qualifying based on your education, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.
If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.
One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education which shows the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.htmlEmployment Type: OTHER

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