|
Sarah focuses her practice in probate law, including contested guardianships (adult and minor) and estate litigation and administration. Sarah represents individuals, fiduciaries, guardianship agencies, and financial institutions in all areas of her practice. Sarah is also frequently appointed by judges in the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County to serve as Guardian ad Litem and as attorney for alleged disabled adults.
Since 2019, Sarah has been named as an Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star, an honor earned by only 2.5% of the attorneys in Illinois annually. In 2018 and 2021, Sarah was named as an Emerging Lawyer by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company, a distinction earned by fewer than 2% of lawyers licensed to practice law in Illinois who are under 40 years of age or have been practicing for 10 years or less. In 2017, Sarah was elected to the Illinois State Bar Association Board of Governors, under the age of 37 for Cook County for a three year term. In 2014, Sarah was elected to the Illinois State Bar Association Assembly, which is the supreme policy making body of the Association. Further, Sarah was appointed to the Illinois State Bar Association Trust & Estates Section Council in 2015. Prior to her appointment, Sarah published two articles for the Trust & Estates Section Newsletter. Sarah graduated from Saint Louis University Law School in 2014 with Concentrations in Civil Litigation Skills and Criminal Litigation Skills. While in law school, Sarah was appointed as an Honor Council Representative for her class and also served as a Faculty Directed Research Assistant, where she was tasked with creating new laws to serve the underprivileged in various municipal courts. Sarah also interned at the St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office in the Juvenile Division and at the Circuit Attorney's Office in St. Louis, Missouri in the Domestic Violence, Sex Crimes, White Collar, Career Criminal, and Violent Felonies Divisions. Moreover, Sarah also externed in the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County for two summers. Sarah received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Southern Methodist University in 2011. During college, Sarah volunteered with the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center and was a member of Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity, where she volunteered with the Starlight Children's Foundation and the Ronald McDonald House. |
|
Primary Practice Areas
Adult Guardianship Minor Guardianship Decedent's Estates |
Education
Saint Louis University School of Law, J.D., 2014 Southern Methodist University, B.A., 2011 |
Memberships & Associations
Illinois State Bar Association – Board of Governors, under the age of 37, Cook County (2017-2020) – Assembly Member – Trust & Estates Section Council Member (2016-Present) Chicago Bar Association – Probate Practice – Trust & Estates – Alliance for Women Justinian Society of Lawyers – Executive Committee – Member at Large (2021-present) – Membership Committee (2020-present) Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity |
Admissions
Illinois, 2014 |
Publications
"Cook County Probate Division's Virtual Hearing Process: An Update," published in the Illinois State Bar Association Trust & Estates section Newsletter, December 2020
"Acting as a Guardian ad Litem in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Probate Division," published in the Bar Briefs, Kane County Bar Association, December 2017/January 2018
Speaking Engagements
|
September 24, 2021: "Illinois Electronic Wills & Remote Witnesses Act," Illinois Electronic Wills Act Series - Part 2, Illinois State Bar Association, Trust & Estate Section Council
August 27, 2021: "Ethical & Practical Considerations for the Guardian ad Litem & Counsel for Respondent," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Guardianship Institute
August 18, 2021: "Admitting Electronic Wills & Wills with Remote Witnesses to Probate," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education
January 27, 2021: "Duties of Agents Under POAs for Healthcare & Property," Chicago Bar Association, Probate Practice Committee
|
December 11, 2020: "What to do When a POA Agent or Guardian Abuses Their Powers, " National Academy of Elder law Attorneys
September 11, 2020: "Red Flags in Probate & Non-Probate Proceedings," Illinois State Bar Association, Trust & Estates Section, Litigation Workshop
January 21, 2020: "How to Stop the POA Property Agent from Misappropriating Assets," Chicago Bar Association, Probate Practice Committee
November 22, 2019: "How to Remove a Bad Guardian or POA" 15th Annual Elder Law Short Course, Illinois Institute of Continuing Education
|
November 7, 2018: "The Dead Man's Act," Contested Matters in Probate Estates, Chicago Bar Association, Probate Practice Committee
April 18, 2018: "Mastering the Dead Man's Act," 2018, Illinois State Bar Association, Trust & Estates Section Council
December 15, 2017: "Illinois Power of Attorney Act," Guardianship Bootcamp, 2017, Illinois State Bar Association, Trust & Estates Section Council
|