Sheryll Law, P.C.

Sheryll Law, P.C. Sheryll Law, P.C. represents clients on the North Fork and in the Hamptons, as well as throughout Suffolk and Nassau Counties, and New York City.

Attorney Advertising. This page is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be neither formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer-client relationship.

"I'll worry about Medicaid if I ever actually need a nursing home."It's completely understandable — and it's the one tha...
07/17/2026

"I'll worry about Medicaid if I ever actually need a nursing home."
It's completely understandable — and it's the one that breaks our hearts, because by the time someone needs care, the best options are usually gone.
When you apply for nursing-home Medicaid in New York, the state looks back five years at your finances. Any money you gave away or moved during that window can trigger a penalty — a stretch of time where you have to pay for care out of pocket before Medicaid kicks in.
That's the catch: the planning has to happen years before you need it. A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust, for example, only shields your home and savings after the five-year clock has passed.
With nursing-home care on Long Island costing well over $200,000 a year, planning ahead can be the difference between keeping the family home and losing it.
The good news? When there's time, there's almost always a way to protect what you've built. The key is starting before you need to.
📍 Sheryll Law, P.C. — Riverhead & Melville

Estate Planning · Elder Law · Trust & Estate Administration

Putting your son or daughter on your bank account seems like the responsible thing to do — easy access, everything in on...
07/10/2026

Putting your son or daughter on your bank account seems like the responsible thing to do — easy access, everything in one place, "handled."
Unfortunately, it often creates more problems than it solves.
When your child becomes a joint owner, that account legally belongs to them too. So while you're alive, your money is exposed to their creditors, a lawsuit, or a divorce. And when you pass away, the whole account goes to that one child — even if your will says everything should be split evenly among your kids.
There's also a Medicaid wrinkle: adding a child can count as a gift, which can cause real problems if you ever need long-term care within five years.
The good news is there's almost always a better way to get the same convenience — a power of attorney or the right kind of account — without any of the risk.
If you've already added a child to an account, it's worth a quick look to make sure it's doing what you think it's doing.
📍 Sheryll Law, P.C. — Riverhead & Melville

Estate Planning · Elder Law · Trust & Estate Administration

Our summer hours are now in effect. We're closing at 3:00 PM on Fridays.Monday through Thursday stays the same. This run...
07/10/2026

Our summer hours are now in effect. We're closing at 3:00 PM on Fridays.

Monday through Thursday stays the same. This runs through Friday, September 4, and we'll be back to our regular schedule after Labor Day.

If you need us on a Friday afternoon, reach out before 3:00 and we'll take care of you.

Happy Fourth from all of us at Sheryll Law. Enjoy the day with the people who matter most. We'll be back to the legal st...
07/04/2026

Happy Fourth from all of us at Sheryll Law. Enjoy the day with the people who matter most. We'll be back to the legal stuff next week.

"If something happens to me, everything goes to my spouse." It's what most married couples assume. In New York, without ...
07/03/2026

"If something happens to me, everything goes to my spouse." It's what most married couples assume. In New York, without a will, it's simply not true.
State law says that if you pass away without a will and leave behind a spouse and children, your spouse gets the first $50,000 and half of the rest — and your children split the other half. The law decides, not you.
That can get complicated fast. If your kids are minors, the court gets involved to manage their share. In blended families, it can mean your spouse and your children from an earlier marriage suddenly co-own things together.
None of that happens if you have a plan in place. A simple will or trust lets you decide exactly how your spouse and family are taken care of.
If you're not sure what would happen in your situation, that's exactly the kind of thing we sort out every day.
📍 Sheryll Law, P.C. — Riverhead & Melville

Estate Planning · Elder Law · Trust & Estate Administration

Our offices are closed today, Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day. We'll be back to normal hours on Monday...
07/03/2026

Our offices are closed today, Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day. We'll be back to normal hours on Monday, July 6. Wishing everyone a safe and happy Fourth.

The cookout can wait. The will probably shouldn't.
07/02/2026

The cookout can wait. The will probably shouldn't.

07/01/2026

It's the Fourth of July, so let's talk about your independence. Not the country's. Yours. We busted five common estate planning myths in this one. The big one? A will does not keep you out of court. Watch for the other four, including the house-to-the-kids move that can wreck your Medicaid eligibility. Real independence is making these decisions yourself, before someone else has to. Happy Fourth. Link in bio.

This week the country celebrates independence. There's a quieter kind most people skip.It's the kind where your family d...
06/30/2026

This week the country celebrates independence. There's a quieter kind most people skip.

It's the kind where your family doesn't have to guess what you wanted. A will, a health care proxy, and a power of attorney do that. They keep the decisions in your hands instead of a judge's.

That's a form of freedom too. And unlike the fireworks, it lasts.

"I'm not rich enough to need an estate plan." We hear it all the time — and it's the assumption that costs Long Island f...
06/26/2026

"I'm not rich enough to need an estate plan." We hear it all the time — and it's the assumption that costs Long Island families the most.
Here's the thing: estate planning was never really about wealth. It's about control. Who makes your medical decisions if you can't speak for yourself? Who handles your finances if you're incapacitated? Who inherits your home — and do they have to go through court to get it?
If you don't decide, New York decides for you.
And if you own a home here on Long Island, you already have an estate worth protecting. This isn't about avoiding estate tax — it's about making sure the people you love aren't left untangling things in court when they're already grieving.
That's Fine Print Friday — the details that trip families up, explained before they become a problem.
📍 Sheryll Law, P.C. — Riverhead & Melville

Estate Planning · Elder Law · Trust & Estate Administration

Address

633 East Main Street, Suite 2
Riverhead, NY
11901

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16315068440

Website

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