After graduating law school with honors, Rita has focused her entire legal career in estate planning and estate administration, representing clients across the U.S. and internationally, while publishing some scholarly works along the way. Rita has over twenty-five years of in-depth experience providing counsel on all aspects of estate planning, including estate plan creation, gift and estate tax reduction strategies, family business succession, retirement benefit planning, irrevocable trust reformation, business entity organization and funding, asset control and creditor protection planning, and estate and trust administration. Rita advises family business owners, doctors, lawyers, executives, employees, beneficiaries, and fiduciaries. Every client benefits from a well-crafted estate plan. Rita is nationally recognized as a Leading Lawyer with the highest possible legal ranking.
Numerous presentations to lawyers, financial planners, investment advisors, brokers, bar association groups, continuing legal education programs, law school classes, and social clubs.
Illinois Supreme Court
Chicago Kent College of Law, J.D. with Honors, member of law review, recipient of American Jurisprudence and Chicago Kent Class Awards.
Michigan State University, Bachelor of Science
Chicago Bar Association
American Bar Association
Nationally recognized as a Leading Lawyer
Included in Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers (top 5%)
Rated AV (highest) by Martindale-Hubell
Thomas Hamill & Sarah Barnes have recently published “Initial Steps in Advising the Family” in the 2023 edition IICLE’s Estate Administration Fundamentals.
Elizabeth Garlovsky, Sarah Barnes & Shawn McCullough authored the 2023 edition of IICLE’s Revocable Grantor Trusts.
Elizabeth Garlovsky & Sarah Barnes have recently published Chapter 2, “Opening the Probate Estate and Alternatives to Probate” in the 2023 edition IICLE’s Estate Administration
