An IRELA CLE Webinar

The Intersection of Real Estate and Probate: Handling Real Estate in Decedent's Estates

Colleen L. Sahlas

MCLE approved for 1-hour General CLE credit

Registration is Free for IRELA Members
Non-Members ~ $50*

The intersection of probate and real estate occurs when owners of real estate pass away. Real estate attorneys unfamiliar with probate and probate alternatives may be confronted with the many real estate pitfalls that arise at the owner's death. Unlike bank accounts, stock, and retirement accounts owned by a decedent at death, real estate can be more of a liability. Real estate may have liens or encumbrances. It may incur damage if left vacant. Real estate is not readily liquidable, and is not moveable. If located outside of Illinois, real estate having a situs in another state may require probate for more than one state. Real estate expenses and maintenance costs continue on after the owner's death. What if funds can't be accessed until probate is opened? In Cook County, it may take several weeks to open probate. Who can manage the real estate and expenses in the meantime? Is a bond in lieu of probate a better option than probate? What if the estate is insolvent but for real estate which must be sold to pay creditors? What are the advantages of a fiduciary in probate selling real estate? What instrument of conveyance or other document should be recorded? Join Colleen Sahlas on Nov. 5th as she unravels real estate in the probate maze!

Colleen L. Sahlas

Colleen L. Sahlas is the managing partner of the Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, in Oak Brook, Illinois. The firm was founded by her father, David E. Hoy, in 1985. For 25 years, she has focused her practice in estates/probate and trust administration, estate planning, business and real estate. Mrs. Sahlas is the winner of the 2025 IICLE Outstanding Achievement in Estate Planning Award. She is the General Editor and primary author of the highly anticipated manual, "Practical Probate: An Essential Guide for Illinois Decedents’ Estates in Independent Administration," published (and available for preorder) by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education. This brand new IICLE manual features 14 prominent co-authors and a Foreword by Cook County Presiding Probate Judge Daniel B. Malone. From 2024-25, Mrs. Sahlas served as the Chair of the Trusts and Estates Section Council of the Illinois State Bar Association, and as the newsletter editor from 2017-2022. Mrs. Sahlas has presented webinars with IICLE and ISBA, and authored real estate materials 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 ISBA's Trusts and Estates Newsletter and Real Property Newsletter. In 2022, she served alongside Michael J. Rooney and John O'Brien on a 6-member Legislative Committee with IRELA which successfully amended the Illinois Residential Real Property Disclosure Act.

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