Colleen L. Sahlas

An author and speaker, Mrs. Sahlas has presented webinars with the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) and with the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA).  She has authored materials for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) including Attorney Fee Service Agreements with IICLE's Formulaw Library.  She has been published in the American Bar Association’s Probate & Property Magazine, and had numerous articles published in the Illinois State Bar Association’s Trusts and Estates Newsletter and the Illinois State Bar Association’s Real Property Newsletter.

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The July, 2014 Illinois Bar Journal (IBJ) awarded her with the “Best of ISBA Newsletters,” for her article article entitled, “6 Strategies to Better Represent Sellers of Real Estate,” which was chosen from nearly 40 different newsletters that produce over 200 articles annually.  The article advised all Illinois real estate attorneys to “see Sahlas’ article for more great seller’s-attorney tips.” 

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To learn how Mrs. Sahlas was drawn into the trusts and estates legal practice, and what she describes as the most rewarding and challenging aspects of it, read the "Spotlight" article of the Oct., 2020 issue of the Illinois State Bar Association's Trusts & Estates Newsletter.  She has a passion for practicing law and enjoys getting to know her clients.  She strives to meet their legal needs.  She serves a wide variety of clients, from young to elderly, and from singles to married couples with or without children, and blended families.  Having a heart for serving single, widowed and divorced women, she knows that a woman attorney can best address a woman's unique estate planning needs. 

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​Since 2000, Mrs. Sahlas has handled numerous, complex probate estates, trust administration and decedent’s estates.  As  probate and decedent's estate administration is confusing and daunting, she compassionately guides her clients through the many complex legal issues during their time of grief and loss. 

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​Mrs. Sahlas grew up in Oak Park, IL. She received her Juris Doctor degree from the John Marshall Law School (n/k/a University of Illinois at Chicago Law School) in 2000, and passed the bar exam immediately thereafter.  In 1993, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. During law school, she clerked for a private insurance defense firm in Chicago’s loop and interned for 1 1/2 years with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office prosecuting as a Section 711 student attorney in several trials, prevailing in all. 

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A classically trained Mezzo-Soprano, she is a former member/soloist of the professional Chicago Choral Artists and the historic Apollo Chorus of Chicago.  Her husband, Nicko, is a former professional chef, and together they enjoy traveling and exploring cuisines.  Since 2012, she and her husband have led Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University classes.  In her free time, Mrs. Sahlas enjoys learning German, Greek, and French; and walking with her Brittany Spaniel.