What is your plan for taking care of your pet after you’ve passed away? If you are thinking about establishing a pet trust to ensure your pet is well cared for, there are some things you’ll need to let your pet’s guardian know. For instance:
Your Pet’s Habits and Quirks
You and your pet share a home, so you’re well aware of its feeding schedule, when it needs to go for a walk, and what its favorite toys are. You also know how to deal with your pet’s quirks, whether they include a morbid fear of thunderstorms, a compulsion to chase the mailman, or a need to eat meals with the family.
Your guardian is not as likely to be aware of your pet’s day-to-day needs, so you’ll want to include instructions about all of these details which may seem natural and obvious to you.
Your Pet’s Veterinary Needs
Do you take your dog or cat to the vet for a checkup each year, and leave it at that, or does your pet have more extensive medical needs? Are there medications that need to be dispensed or special foods that need to be served? You’ll want to give your guardian written instructions concerning your pet’s health, including your veterinarians name, number, and address; the schedule you adhere to for vet visits, and the details for any medications that need to be administered.
Your estate planning attorney can help you establish a trust that covers all of your pet’s needs, and helps to ensure that if and when your pet trust needs to be implemented, your pet’s transition to its new home is as smooth as possible for all involved.
Stephen A. Mendel, Estate Planning Attorney
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