Sarah Barnes concentrates her practice on advising clients in estate and trust administration, estate planning, and probate matters, including decedent and guardianship estates. She represents numerous individual and corporate fiduciaries charged with trust and estate administration and guides them through the probate process when required.
Sarah also handles controversies that arise during the administration process and frequently appears in court to handle both routine and contested matters. She often advises fiduciaries and beneficiaries on cost-effective solutions under the Illinois Trust Code when dealing with obsolete estate planning documents or ambiguous terms within those documents.
Sarah also regularly handles trust and estate litigation matters in probate and chancery court. Sarah uses her litigation experience in her estate planning and administration practice to foresee potential challenges and take steps to mitigate issues that may arise during the administration phase.
Sarah is a regular speaker and writer for IICLE, sharing her trust and estate administration knowledge with others.
Outside of the office, Sarah enjoys watching movies, reading, and starting new home design projects.
Co-author with Samantha E. Weissbluth and Elizabeth A. Garlovsky: “Admission of Wills to Probate.” IICLE Litigating Disputed Estates, Trusts, Guardianships, and Charitable Bequests (2023)
Co-author with Elizabeth A. Garlovsky and Shawn M. McCullough: “Revocable Grantor Trusts Handbook.” (2022 Edition)
Co-author with Elizabeth A. Garlovsky: “Opening the Probate Estate and Alternative to Probate.” IICLE Estate Administration Fundamentals (2022)
Co-author with Thomas G. Hamill: “Initial Steps in Advising the Family.” IICLE Estate Administration Fundamentals (2022)
Co-author with Elizabeth A. Garlovsky: “Reflecting on Mental Health Awareness Month: A Refresher on Power of Attorney for Healthcare, Advanced Directives and Guardianships, and What Happens When There Is Disagreement,” IICLE Estate Planning & Probate Law Flashpoints (June 2021)
Co-author with Elizabeth A. Garlovsky: “SECURE Act Impacts Non-Spouse Beneficiaries of Retirement Plans,” IICLE Estate Planning & Probate Law Flashpoints (May 2021)
Co-author with Elizabeth A. Garlovsky: “Estate Planning During COVID-19: Current Law and Restrictions and Some Proposed Solutions,” IICLE Estate Planning & Probate Law Flashpoints (April 2020)
Co-author with David M. Lutrey: “Considerations in Advising the Fiduciary After Death,” IICLE Estate Administration (2019)
Contributor: “Opening the Probate Estate and Alternatives to Probate,” IICLE Estate Administration (2019)
Presenter (upcoming): “Post-Death Administration: An overview of the process and best practices for efficiently settling an estate and trust.” IICLE Estate Planning for the 99% (December 8, 2023)
Co-presenter with Shawn M. McCullough: “How to Leverage the Internet to Ethically Market Your Practice and Improve Client Relationships.” IICLE 66th Annual Estate Planning Short Course (May 23, 2023)
Co-presenter with Thomas G. Hamill: “Third-Party Claims Against Decedents Under the Illinois Trust Code.” IICLE 65th Annual Estate Planning Short Course (May 24, 2022)
Co-presenter with Judge Karen L. O’Malley and Elizabeth A. Garlovsky: “A Refresher on Claims and the Intersection of Personal Injury & Probate: Practical Tips from Probate Practitioners and a View from the Bench,” 2019 CBA Probate Practice Committee Annual Seminar (November 6, 2019)
Illinois
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., 2015
Michigan State University, B.A., 2010
American Bar Association
Illinois Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association, Member of Probate Practice Committee
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America (2024, 2025)
Harrison LLP was recently recognized in Best Lawyers’ 2025 edition of Best Law Firms® in the following areas: Trusts & Estates Law Tax Law Litigation
Harrison LLP is proud to announce that Atlanta Partner Elizabeth Green Lindsey has been named to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Lawyers guide. Elizabeth believes divorce that involves complicated financial issues
Naples Partner Marcie A. Charles has been recognized, once again, as one of the Top Lawyers for Trusts and Estates Law by Naples Illustrated. This
