If you have pets, you probably want to make sure they are well-taken care of, if anything happens to you. Unfortunately, wishing for their good fortune isn’t enough. Too many animals are abandoned when their owners die and face rehoming, life in an animal shelter, or worse.
To make sure your furry friend is taken care of when you become incapacitated or upon your death, you can leave assets for their care and custody. The best way to leave your faithful companion assets is to set up a pet trust.
Pet trust
With a pet trust, you can create certain rules for how the trust’s funds can be used. You can name a trustee—the person who will control and manage the funds—and a caregiver for your pet. By having a trustee manage the funds, you can be ensured the caregiver will only benefit from them if they are used according to the rules of the trust.
A will isn't the best option
Another way people leave money and instructions for the care of their pets is with a will. But wills cannot ensure the funds are used in the way you want them to be, nor do they ensure the caregiver will care for your pet. A person who is left a pet in a will can turn around and leave the pet at a shelter and pocket the money left to them for their own use instead.
Leaving your pet assets is easy with a pet trust. But trust creation can be complicated, and working with a lawyer to develop the terms of the trust is highly recommended.
If you are ready to create a pet trust, contact us. We can walk you step by step through creating a pet trust and other legal resources to ensure your loved ones are taken care of.
This article is a service of the Law Office of Keoni Souza, LLC, an estate planning law firm in Honolulu, Hawaii. We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That is why we offer a Family Wealth Planning Session, during which you will get more financially organized than you have ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by contacting our office today to schedule a planning session and mention this article to find out how to get this $750 session at no charge.
Disclaimer: All information on this website is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. You should contact an attorney trained to work with families on estate planning matters regarding your specific situation. Use of and access to this website or any of the email links contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship between the Law Office of Keoni Souza, LLC, and any users or any other party.
