Estate Planning for Pets
This page is provided for information purposes ONLY.
Every individual's situation is different and you are advised to seek the counsel of a qualified attorney.
Every individual's situation is different and you are advised to seek the counsel of a qualified attorney.
If something happens to you, who will take care of your pet?
This a question we ask on our Adoption Application and most of the time, the applicant answers it by saying, "A family member will take the dog," Whether it be a son, daughter, brother, sister, etc., the average person believes their family member will take and care for their beloved pet.
WRONG!!! For whatever reason, usually the spouse doesn't like the dog or "we have too many dogs already," etc., but your beloved pet is dumped in the shelter, and it is probably a high kill facility. Go visit your local shelter, because that is probably where your dog is headed. Or, if your dog is lucky, the family will contact us or another reputable rescue to help place your dog in a new and loving home.
WRONG!!! For whatever reason, usually the spouse doesn't like the dog or "we have too many dogs already," etc., but your beloved pet is dumped in the shelter, and it is probably a high kill facility. Go visit your local shelter, because that is probably where your dog is headed. Or, if your dog is lucky, the family will contact us or another reputable rescue to help place your dog in a new and loving home.
Estate Planning for Pets
You can’t leave money to your pet, but you can make sure that your pet is well cared for after you die.
You can’t leave money to your pet, but you can make sure that your pet is well cared for after you die.
Pets cannot own property, so you cannot leave property to your pet. However, you can plan to make sure that your pet has a good life after you die. Use your estate plan to make sure that:
Options for Estate Planning for Pets
When planning for your pet’s life after your death, you have a ranges of options – from making simple, non-legal arrangement, to making a complex trust, to leaving your pet with an organization dedicated to taking care of pets after an owner’s death.
To make any of these arrangements, you need to find a person or organization that you trust to care for your pet. And that person or organization needs to be willing to do it. So no matter which option you choose, have a candid conversation with your pet’s potential caretaker about how to care for your pet and how expenses will be met.
Pets in Your Will
Again, you cannot use your will to leave money or property to your pet. If you try, that money or property will be included in your residuary estate, see “What If I Don’t Make a Plan,” below.
However, you can use your will to leave your pet -- and money to care for your pet -- to a trusted caretaker.
- your pet goes to a caring person or organization, and
- the new caretaker has the resources to take good care of him or her.
Options for Estate Planning for Pets
When planning for your pet’s life after your death, you have a ranges of options – from making simple, non-legal arrangement, to making a complex trust, to leaving your pet with an organization dedicated to taking care of pets after an owner’s death.
To make any of these arrangements, you need to find a person or organization that you trust to care for your pet. And that person or organization needs to be willing to do it. So no matter which option you choose, have a candid conversation with your pet’s potential caretaker about how to care for your pet and how expenses will be met.
Pets in Your Will
Again, you cannot use your will to leave money or property to your pet. If you try, that money or property will be included in your residuary estate, see “What If I Don’t Make a Plan,” below.
However, you can use your will to leave your pet -- and money to care for your pet -- to a trusted caretaker.
EXAMPLE:
Ben’s health is failing and he’s concerned about what will happen to his four-year old lab mix, Sarah, when he passes. He talks to his brother John about taking Sarah after his death. John knows and loves Sarah and would like to take her, but he is on a very tight budget and is not sure how he’ll pay for Sarah’s food, vet bills, and occasional boarding. Ben decides to use his will to leave Sarah to John, and he also leaves John some extra money for Sarah’s care.
Ben’s health is failing and he’s concerned about what will happen to his four-year old lab mix, Sarah, when he passes. He talks to his brother John about taking Sarah after his death. John knows and loves Sarah and would like to take her, but he is on a very tight budget and is not sure how he’ll pay for Sarah’s food, vet bills, and occasional boarding. Ben decides to use his will to leave Sarah to John, and he also leaves John some extra money for Sarah’s care.
This type of arrangement is legal in the sense that Sarah will legally belong to John. However, John will have no legal obligation to use the money on Sarah – he will receive the money outright. If he used the money to play the lottery, there would be no legal recourse.
It’s also a good idea to name (and talk to) an alternate caretaker, in case your first choice cannot do the job.
The clause in Ben’s will might look something like this:
I leave my black lab mix, Sarah and $,1,500, to John Henderson, with the hope that the money will be used for Sarah’s care and maintenance. If John Henderson does not survive me, I leave Sarah and $1,500 to Jenny Berg, with the hope that the money will be used for Sarah’s care and maintenance.
Pet Trusts
A stronger, more complicated, and more expensive legal option is to make a pet trust. With a pet trust you can leave your pet, money, and a legal obligation to care for your pet. If the caretaker fails to follow your instructions, he or she can be sued. In your trust document, you:
Disadvantages to using a pet trust. Pet trusts are 1) expensive, 2) inflexible if circumstances change after your death, 3) likely to be more planning and structure than you need if you trust your named caretaker.
Pet trusts are available in most states, but not every state.
Legacy Arrangements
If you're not able to find a person both willing and able to take care of your pet after you die, you're not without options. Programs exist across the country that allow you to leave your pet to a trustworthy caretaker after you die. For example:
Learn more about these Legacy Options for Pets.
Non-Legal Arrangements
The easiest and most flexible arrangement for your pet doesn’t require formal legalities. If you fully trust your executor and the person who will care for your pet, and you are confident that no one else will claim ownership of your pet, simply tell your executor who should care for your pet when you die. As long as everyone involved is in agreement, there will be no problem for your pet to go to your chosen caretaker.
EXAMPLE:Sylvia and Henry are newlyweds. They make simple wills leaving everything to each other and naming each other as executors of their estates. Sylvia came to the marriage with a Siamese cat named Oscar. There is no love lost between Oscar and Henry; they tolerate each other’s presence. Sylvia tells Henry that if she dies, her mother, who loves Oscar, has agreed to take the cat. She is confident that there is no one else who would want Oscar. If Sylvia were to die, Henry could give Oscar to Sylvia’s mother with no problem.
However, if there is any possibility of disagreement about who should own your pet, it is a good idea to make a legal arrangement in your will or through a pet trust.
What If You Don’t Make a Plan?
If you don’t make arrangements for your pet in your estate plan, who will get your pet depends on what other arrangements you’ve made, or not made. If you have made a will, your pet will go to your residuary beneficiary – that is, the person you named to get the remainder of your estate after any specific gifts have been doled out. If you haven’t made a will, all of your property (including your pet) will be distributed according to the laws of your state, through intestate succession.
It’s also a good idea to name (and talk to) an alternate caretaker, in case your first choice cannot do the job.
The clause in Ben’s will might look something like this:
I leave my black lab mix, Sarah and $,1,500, to John Henderson, with the hope that the money will be used for Sarah’s care and maintenance. If John Henderson does not survive me, I leave Sarah and $1,500 to Jenny Berg, with the hope that the money will be used for Sarah’s care and maintenance.
Pet Trusts
A stronger, more complicated, and more expensive legal option is to make a pet trust. With a pet trust you can leave your pet, money, and a legal obligation to care for your pet. If the caretaker fails to follow your instructions, he or she can be sued. In your trust document, you:
- State pets are covered.
- Name a caretaker.
- Leave an amount of money to be used for pet care.
- Describe how the pet should be cared for.
- Name a person to go to court and enforce the terms of the trust if necessary.
- State what should be done with any money that’s left over when the animal dies.
- Describe how your pet should be cared for if you can’t take care of him or her before your death.
Disadvantages to using a pet trust. Pet trusts are 1) expensive, 2) inflexible if circumstances change after your death, 3) likely to be more planning and structure than you need if you trust your named caretaker.
Pet trusts are available in most states, but not every state.
Legacy Arrangements
If you're not able to find a person both willing and able to take care of your pet after you die, you're not without options. Programs exist across the country that allow you to leave your pet to a trustworthy caretaker after you die. For example:
- SPCA programs
- Veterinary school programs
- Private animal sanctuaries and rescue organizations
Learn more about these Legacy Options for Pets.
Non-Legal Arrangements
The easiest and most flexible arrangement for your pet doesn’t require formal legalities. If you fully trust your executor and the person who will care for your pet, and you are confident that no one else will claim ownership of your pet, simply tell your executor who should care for your pet when you die. As long as everyone involved is in agreement, there will be no problem for your pet to go to your chosen caretaker.
EXAMPLE:Sylvia and Henry are newlyweds. They make simple wills leaving everything to each other and naming each other as executors of their estates. Sylvia came to the marriage with a Siamese cat named Oscar. There is no love lost between Oscar and Henry; they tolerate each other’s presence. Sylvia tells Henry that if she dies, her mother, who loves Oscar, has agreed to take the cat. She is confident that there is no one else who would want Oscar. If Sylvia were to die, Henry could give Oscar to Sylvia’s mother with no problem.
However, if there is any possibility of disagreement about who should own your pet, it is a good idea to make a legal arrangement in your will or through a pet trust.
What If You Don’t Make a Plan?
If you don’t make arrangements for your pet in your estate plan, who will get your pet depends on what other arrangements you’ve made, or not made. If you have made a will, your pet will go to your residuary beneficiary – that is, the person you named to get the remainder of your estate after any specific gifts have been doled out. If you haven’t made a will, all of your property (including your pet) will be distributed according to the laws of your state, through intestate succession.
This page is provided for information purposes ONLY.
Every individual's situation is different and you are advised to seek the counsel of a qualified attorney.
Every individual's situation is different and you are advised to seek the counsel of a qualified attorney.
