As of 2023, almost 66% of U.S. households have at least one pet- and many families have more than one! Many people consider their pet to be a member of the family, and most pet owners want to make sure that if they become incapacitated or pass away, their pet will be provided for. There are a couple ways that you can use estate planning to help make sure your pet is taken care of if something happens to you.

Durable Power of Attorney 

When planning for your pet, you should first think about what should happen if you are alive but can no longer care for your pet yourself due to incapacity. In such situations, your Attorney-in-Fact under your Durable Power of Attorney may step in. Your Power of Attorney may direct that your assets may be used to pay for food, medical treatment, and other necessities, including keeping your pet at home as long as possible, as your Attorney-in-Fact decides appropriate.

Memorandum and Gifts for Pet Caretaker

Your estate plan should also include a plan for the care of your pet when you pass away. Your Last Will and Testament directs the distribution of your assets after you pass away, including your pets. If you have a specific individual you wish to take custody of and care for your pet after you pass, you may include those instructions in your Will, or on a separate Memorandum referenced in your Will. The Memorandum is incorporated by reference into your Will yet permits you to update it if you later get another pet or change your mind about whom you would like to care for your pet.  

Your Will can also include a provision that gives a specific amount of money to the selected pet caretaker in order to assist with anticipated veterinary expenses, food, toys, etc. for your pet. Such gifts are usually small, ranging from $1,000 to $40,000, in my experience, depending on the age of your pet and the pet’s anticipated needs.

Revocable Living Trust Pet Sub-Trust 

If you already have a Revocable Living Trust as part of your estate plan and would like to gift a larger amount of money to your pet’s caretaker but prefer that the funds are managed by someone else, then a simple pet sub-trust as part of your Revocable Living Trust may be a good option. Since 2011, residents of Massachusetts have been permitted to create trusts for the benefit of their pets. The trust is legally binding and must benefit a pet that is alive during the trust creator’s lifetime. There is a manager (Trustee) appointed to administer and distribute the trust money to a separate person who is the pet’s caretaker. The trust describes the purposes for which money may be distributed to the caretaker for the pet’s benefit, such as grooming, training, veterinary care, and more. If the amount held in trust is challenged, the court may determine if it is excessive in connection with the needs of the pet and reduce the amount so long as it will not negatively impact the care, maintenance, health, or appearance of the pet. The trust ends at the death of the last surviving pet and directs that the remaining funds, if any, are distributed according to other terms of the trust.

Stand-Alone Pet Trust 

If you are contemplating setting aside a large sum to pay for your pet’s expenses because the pet has a long-life expectancy or significant health care needs, a stand-alone pet trust may be a better fit for you. But keep in mind that funding the trust with millions of dollars may spell Trouble – as in the pet trust created for Leona Helmsley’s dog, Trouble, whom the court determined did not require $12 million dollars to pay for the pup’s lifetime care and redirected the distribution of a majority of those funds to others. While the stand-alone pet trust must adhere to the same Massachusetts laws mentioned above, it also allows you to include more complex wishes regarding the compensation of the Caretaker and Trustee, as well as the distributions for your pet’s benefit, such as transportation expenses, boarding, medical care, and more.

At Samuel Sayward & Baler LLC, we recognize that pets are cherished family members. Happily, there are many options available to ensure your pet is well cared for in the event of your incapacity or death, and we will guide you through the process of determining the best way to provide for them in your estate plan. Please visit our website or call our office at (781)461-1020 to learn more or schedule an appointment.  Please visit The Humane Society website for more resources and tips for planning for your pets. 

August, 2023

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