If you have ever visited an animal shelter, then you have witnessed this sad sight: beloved pets whose elderly (or sometimes not so elderly) owners have passed away. With no one to care for them and, perhaps, no one with the resources to do so, the unfortunate fact is that these animals often end up in shelters. This is true typically after they bounce around from place to place, among the family and friends of the deceased. What is already a tumultuous and upsetting time, for your beloved pet, may become dangerously worse.
As a pet owner yourself, you must ask yourself: “What happens to my sweet and loyal companion if I should die first?”
We can help keep your pets safe
At the Whipple Law Group, we help our clients answer that very question, allowing them to rest easy, knowing that their pet is well cared for in the event they pass first.
Of course, our firm prepares stellar estate planning for our clients – drafting wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney, and more. However, did you know that we can easily add a Pet Trust to your estate planning documents at a very affordable rate?
What is a Pet Trust?
A Pet Trust is an estate planning tool that allocates resources from your assets to your companion animals that are alive at the time of your death. It is a place where you can designate that a certain sum of money is held in a trust to pay for the animal’s needs. Providing for your pets is particularly important in cases involving long-lived pets including dogs, cats, horses, birds, and reptiles.
Who is the Trustee?
The Pet Trust designates the person, named the Trustee, who is responsible for administering for the financial care and maintenance of your pet. This person is often the same as the person actually providing for the physical care of your pet. Where these responsibilities are shared, the Trustee and the Caregiver work closely together to ensure your desires are implemented. You choose in your Pet Trust who the Trustee and the Caregiver will be.
How does it work?
First, you discuss the details and provisions you wish to include in the Pet Trust with our team. Then, the Pet Trust can be added to your last will and testament or constructed as a stand-alone trust document.
In addition to the Pet Trust document, we will enable you to direct which family member or friend inherits your pet after you are gone, should you have already decided who that person should be.
Do your pet and yourself the honor of making the correct arrangements, to truly rest in peace.
Let’s Get Started
Incorporating a Pet Trust into your estate planning documents is a wonderful way to give yourself peace of mind, safety, and security for your pet; it also ensures that your wishes are carried out after you are gone. Contact the Whipple Law Group, at 509-869-3223 to start drafting yours today!
