About Us

Our story is the story of six women: Shari A Rivkind, a litigator, her two daughters, her two sisters, and Shari's loving mother Ruthie who developed dementia and passed away on January 20, 2021. Our journey truly started in March 2019 when "Grandma Ruthie" was brought back to New Jersey as her companion could no longer take care of her in their home in Arizona. The move was done on relatively short notice and did not go according to plan. Ruthie's first assisted living facility, at the last minute when Ruthie was already in New Jersey, gave her room away. Ruthie’s second facility was brand new and beautiful, but was awaiting township approval before it could open, which we were told was expected “any day now". For three and a half weeks, Grandma Ruthie lived with us in an unsecured two-bedroom loft apartment. Ruthie then moved into what everyone believed was the most perfect place that she could possibly be, yet for whatever reason, she hated it and constantly tried to escape. We finally located a more secured facility for her where she stayed until she passed away.

Throughout her entire time in assisted living, we were plagued with doubts: are they adequately taking care of her, could we have done a better job, was she being stimulated mentally enough, was she getting the proper nutrition and exercise? The list went on. We were thankful for the care she received, but at the same time always questioned whether or not she was getting the best care.

One would think that a legal background would help one maneuver all the documents and decisions involved with taking care of an elderly loved one. It did to an extent, but many other decisions are medical or emotional ones. Like many, Shari scoured the internet for answers on everything. From similar experiences of others, to what should be expected, to making choices regarding medications, hours upon hours were spent searching for answers.

We all realize that even today there are some questions which we will never have answers. We also realize that we made some mistakes along the way. Yet all in all, we can confidently say that we did our best, always put Ruthie’s best interests first and can be at peace with the decisions we made. Ruthie’s little 2.5 lb. chihuahua Bella, age 13, who lives with us now, thinks so too!

 
Shari A. Rivkind is an attorney with 34 years of legal experience. She started a firm with her ex-husband in 1993 while raising four children. She then formed her own firm in 2008, The Rivkind Law Firm. Ms. Rivkind's experience has always been varied and she has provided throughout her career an extensive amount of work involving Wills, Trusts and Estates and Elder Law. From contested will disputes to guardian appointments to both simple and complex wills, Ms. Rivkind has zealously protected her clients' interests to the fullest. She is a member of the New Jersey and California Bars, but is currently inactive in California. 

Morgan J. Weil is Shari A. Rivkind's daughter and a proud new attorney of the New Jersey Bar having been admitted in 2021. During law school she interned at The New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) as an Elder Law intern working with experienced attorneys and providing services to seniors with low incomes. Thereafter, she was a legal intern for The Rice Law Group, a firm specializing in Trusts, Estates and Taxation in NYC, expanding her experience in estate planning.  
 

Amanda S. Weil, Shari A Rivkind’s youngest daughter, has been the firm's experienced paralegal since 2016.