It’s sad but true that many pets end up in shelters after their owner dies or becomes incapacitated. In fact, the Humane Society estimates that between 100,00 to 500,000 pets are placed in shelters each year for exactly this reason, and a large number of these animals are ultimately euthanized.
Unfortunately, the law considers pets to be nothing more than personal property just like cars, furniture, and electronic devices. So unless you take the proper steps to include your pet in your estate plan, your beloved companion could end up in a shelter or worse following your death or incapacity.
In light of this cold reality, here I’ll detail how you can use estate planning to ensure your pets receive the best possible care when you’re no longer able to care for them yourself. Consult with me as your Personal Family Lawyer® to put the proper legal documents in place to provide for your furry friend’s future care.
It’s best to come up with a list of potential candidates, and then have a frank talk with each of them, discussing the extent of care your pet requires and whether they have any personal issues (allergies, housing, children, other pets, etc) that might prevent them from providing the proper care.
If you don’t know any suitable caregivers, charitable groups, such as the Safe Haven® Surviving Pet Care Program, can provide for your pet in the event of your death or incapacity.
Once you’ve chosen your pet’s caregiver—along with one or two alternates in case something happens to your top choices—then you’ll need to outline all of your pet’s care requirements. At the very least, your caretaking instructions should include your pet’s basic requirements: dietary needs, exercise regimen, medications, and veterinary care. But if you are like most pet owners, you probably want your pet to receive more than just the bare necessities, so consider leaving instructions for any other special treatment you want your furry friend to receive.
From special grooming arrangements and yummy treats to weekly visits to the park and favorite toys, your care plan can provide your beloved companion with whatever lifestyle you wish for them. Finally, don’t forget to address what you want to be done at the end of your pet’s life, such as burial, cremation, and/or memorial services.
When determining how much money to put aside for your pet’s care, you should carefully consider the pet’s age, health, and special care needs. Remember, you’re covering the cost of caring for the animal for the rest of its life, and even basic expenses can add up over time.
In addition to the bare necessities like food and vet visits, make sure you also calculate the costs for any special treatments or services you include in the care plan and leave enough money to pay for them. And if you end up leaving more money behind than needed, you can always name a remainder beneficiary, such as a family member or charity, to inherit any funds not spent on the pet.
Since pet care can be quite complicated and costly, the best way to ensure your wishes are properly carried out is to set up a pet trust. While it’s possible to leave care instructions and funding for your pet in a will, a will cannot guarantee the new caregiver will use the funds properly—or even that they will care for your pet at all.
In fact, a person who’s left their pet in a will can simply drop the animal off at a local shelter and keep the money for themselves. A pet trust, on the other hand, allows you to layout legally binding rules for how the funds in the trust can be used. Additionally, pet trusts can cover multiple pets, work in cases of incapacity as well as death, and they remain in effect until the last surviving animal dies.
To ensure your wishes are accurately carried out, you should name someone other than the caregiver as a trustee. This way, the trustee can manage the funds and make sure they are used exactly as spelled out in your care instructions.
Although leaving assets in a pet trust is fairly simple, creating a properly drafted trust that includes all of the necessary terms can be quite complex. To this end, reach out to me, as your Personal Family Lawyer,® for support in creating your pet trust.
I can make sure that your pet trust contains all of the necessary elements to guarantee that your beloved companions will continue to receive the love and care it deserves no matter what happens to you. Schedule an appointment today using the button below this article.
This article is a service of Attorney Alexis Langer, Personal Family Lawyer®. I don’t just draft documents; I ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love.
That's why I offer a Family Wealth Planning Session,™ during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before, and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by scheduling a Family Wealth Planning Session and mentioning this article to find out how to get this $750 session at no charge.
The information on this page is for educational and informational purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship. This information should not be construed to be legal advice.
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