No one ever knows when his or her day is up. That’s why there should be a plan in place for Fluffy or Fido, the ones who love you unconditionally every single day of their lives.
With pets having daycares and their own shops to find tasty treats and cute outfits in these days, this is hardly far fetched. If the day comes, and you can’t take care of your loving pets who rely on you , don’t leave them to the unknown. Look into creating a pet trust. It’s a legal instrument you may use to be sure your pet receives proper care after you die or in the event you can not take care of your pet, i.e.; your disability.
The selection of the caregiver for your pet is extremely important. Here are some of the key considerations:
- Willingness to assume the responsibilities associated with caring for your pet.
- Ability to provide a stable home for your pet.
- Harmonious relationship between the caregiver’s family members and your pet.
After you name your primary caregiver, you should name several alternate caregivers in case your first choice is unable or unwilling to serve as your pet’s caregiver. To avoid having your pet end up without a home, consider naming a sanctuary or no-kill shelter as your last choice.
What types of instructions should I include in my pet trust regarding the care of my pet?
Here are some examples of the types of concerns about which you may wish to provide instructions:
- Food and diet
- Daily routines
- Toys
- Cages
- Grooming
- Socialization
- Medical care, preferred veterinarian
- Compensation, if any, for the caregiver
- Method the caregiver must use to document expenditures for reimbursement, and how often
- Whether the trust will pay for liability insurance in case your animal bites or injures someone
- How the trustee is to monitor caregiver’s services
- Disposition of the pet’s remains, e.g., burial, cremation, memorial, etc.
Evane Abbassi, American estate planning attorney, is spreading the wealth through her development of an easy, step-by-step wills and trusts system for all Americans. The Legendary Wills and Trusts software is available online at http://www.LegendaryWillsandTrusts.com.
