What
Legal Arrangements
Can I Make for the Care of My Pet?
As a conscientious pet owner, you must decide whether
and to what extent you need to make the arrangements
for your pet "legal". In this regard, not to choose
is to choose. (See
What
Would Happen to My Pet If I Passed Away? and
What Would Happen to My Pet if I
Became Incapacitated? )
At the outset, it should be noted that even the most
thorough provisions for your pet may be integrated
into your current estate planning documents without
re-doing your entire estate plan. For those of
you who have no formal estate planning document, there
may be practical reasons (other than the care of your
pet) to reconsider the need for making formal estate
planning arrangements.
There are a variety of legally-enforceable mechanisms
that are available for you to provide for the care of
your pet when you are no longer able. For a brief
discussion of each type of document, see
Documents Addressing Pet Care
Upon Death and
Documents Addressing Pet Care Upon Incapacity.
The appropriateness of a particular document depends
on the circumstances involved and the laws of the
jurisdiction where the pet owner and pet reside.
Whatever method you choose, you generally have two
options for making provisions for the care of your
pet: |
