Debra L. Chernick

Debra L. Chernick is of counsel at Sayer Regan & Thayer, LLP and lead counsel in the firm’s Wakefield, Rhode Island office. She practices estate planning, wills and trusts, estate administration, family law, real estate, and property tax appeals. Her work serves individuals and families facing legal needs that arise during major life events, including buying a home, family changes, and planning for the transfer of assets. Her cases often bring together estate, family, and property issues for people navigating more than one legal concern.

Debra graduated cum laude from Brandeis University in 1976 with a B.A. in Anthropology and Sociology and a minor in Education. She earned her J.D. cum laude from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1982. Her education preceded a practice focused on combining legal analysis with attention to clients’ personal circumstances and the practical decisions that affect their families.

Debra began practicing law in 1982 and has developed longstanding relationships with families across generations. Her work includes estate matters for older relatives, wills for younger families, real estate transactions, and disputes related to divorce or family changes. She also handles commercial real estate issues and real property tax appeals, addressing legal questions that can arise alongside ownership and estate planning decisions. She also advises on legal problems that connect estate planning with changes in home ownership or family relationships.

Debra L. Chernick is a former president of the Washington County Bar Association and has served as a delegate to the Rhode Island Bar Association House of Delegates. She has participated in bar committees and community organizations, and received a Leading Lady of South County distinction in 2024. Her practice emphasizes practical advice and sustained professional relationships across life stages. Her work in the Wakefield office has included helping clients address several different legal matters over time.

Law Office Affiliations

• Of Counsel, Sayer Regan & Thayer, LLP
• Member, Rhode Island Bar Association
• Member, Connecticut Bar Association
• Past President, Washington County Bar Association (2000-2004)
• Member, South County Business Alliance

Licensed State

• Rhode Island
• Connecticut

Education

• University of Connecticut School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Brandeis University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges