Pet Trusts…Because Fido is Not a Piece of Furniture

Q: How do I provide for my pet’s future care if I die or become disabled first?

Your pet trusts you with its life. She curls up at your feet in the den. He waits at the window– tail wagging– eager for your return home.

Have you ever thought about what would happen to your pet if you didn’t make it home? Would your pet be protected if death or disability struck you first?

If you consider your pet a member of the family then you should consider a Pet Trust when doing your estate planning. Because legally, your pet is considered “personal property” –just like the furniture you may be leaving behind.

Without a proper legal plan that says otherwise, Fido and the couch will go to whoever inherits your personal property. And that person may not want or be able to take your beloved pet in for any number of reasons. They may already have other pets, be allergic, or live in small or restricted spaces. Or, if you can believe it, they may not like Fido.

But even if they love Fido, they may not be able to afford his food and veterinary care. Animal shelters are overflowing with beloved pets who are frightened and grieving the sudden loss of their former owners who never came home that day. Sadly, not all shelters are “no-kill” shelters.

A Pet Trust provides your pet with a secure future designed by you. It allows you to choose a caretaker for your pet and give specific directions about your pet’s daily care, medical attention, and burial. In addition, you decide how and when the trust will be funded and who the trustee will be to manage the funds on behalf of your pet. An experienced Pet Trust attorney can help you choose from among the various available Pet Trusts depending upon your particular circumstances.

If you would like to make sure your beloved pet will be cared for by the person and in the manner you designate when you’re no longer around to do so, call the experienced Minnesota Pet Trust attorneys at Unique Estate Law today at 952-260-2043 for a free 15 minute consultation.

With offices in Bloomington, Minneapolis, and St. Louis Park, we represent clients throughout Minnesota.