Seattle and the entire Puget Sound region are among the most pet-friendly areas in the U.S., and we take our commitment to guardianship seriously. We cherish our pets, consider them family. We worry about whether our pets are getting the right foods, the safest toys, the best training and exercise, about whether they are properly socialized, going to the best veterinarians, etc.
You can designate what happens to your pet after you die. Photo from blog.petsforpatriots.org.
If you’ve ever loved, or are currently in love with a pet, you know the joy of sharing your life with an animal far outweighs the eventual heartache most of us bear when they leave us. It’s never easy, but we expect to outlive our pets.
But what happens when they outlive us? Would your pets thrive in your absence?
One simple step can ensure they will — include your pets in your estate plan.
If you don’t already have an estate plan, get one — and include your pets. Here’s why:
WASHINGTON LAW SAYS PETS ARE PROPERTY
In Washington State, pets essentially have the same legal status at your death as your sofa – they are personal property. Without another direction in an estate plan, a pet passes to whoever would inherit your other personal property.
This can be problematic. You might want members of your family to inherit your car or jewelry or sofa. However, he or she might not be the best person to love and care for your pet.
Here’s a hypothetical, but very real example:
Sheila is a 26-year-old single woman with two dogs, a lab mix, Baxter, and a golden retriever, Teddy. She hopes to have children one day, but right now her dogs are her “babies.” She works hard to satisfy their needs for good nutrition, exercise, medical care, training, and overall well-being. Sheila has a large social network of dog-loving friends.
An only child, Sheila has a great relationship with her parents who live nearby. Her parents are touched but a little baffled by Sheila’s devotion to her dogs; still they are the first to admit that they are not “dog people.”
When Sheila thinks of estate planning – which admittedly, she doesn’t often – she thinks it is for someone older, more mature, more settled than she is.
EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A PET ESTATE PLAN
But after hearing about Leona Helmsley and her extravagant pet trust, Sheila got to thinking about what would happen to Baxter and Teddy if she were to die unexpectedly.
As much as she loves her parents, Sheila knows Baxter and Teddy would be better off living with Emily, one of her dog-savvy and dog-loving friends.
Although Sheila would like to have Emily care for her pets in the event of tragedy, she isn’t sure how that would work – or whether Emily could afford to care for the dogs for their lifetimes.
Sheila and Emily have promised each other that they will care for the others’ pets, but this plan is inadequate. Their informal arrangement presents numerous problems.
If Sheila passed without a will, no one would know her wishes for Baxter and Teddy. There would be competing interests – Sheila’s parents, who would inherit the dogs under Washington law, may want to keep the dogs out of a perceived sense of loyalty to Sheila, even though they aren’t the best caretakers.
And Emily would have no way to enforce Sheila’s wishes.
Can Sheila make this work? Yes, instead of making insecure plans with well-meaning friends, Sheila should work with an estate planning attorney to create an estate plan to formalize her goals for her pets.
The issues facing Sheila are similar to the decisions a parent makes with regard to a guardian for a minor child. I encourage pet owners to think about who should care for their pets just as I encourage parents to think carefully about any guardian for their children they name in their wills.
Without an estate plan, you have no control what happens to it when you pass away. Image from Texas Humane Heroes.
A will gives you the power to legally choose who will care for your pet. Your wishes will be clear and enforceable.
Having a formal plan also frees family members from the burden of having to make this decision for you when they’re already suffering emotional distress.
PAYING FOR PET CARE
Caring for pets can be expensive. I encourage my clients to think about how their pet’s caretakers will pay for their new family members’ care.
Providing financial protection ensures the new guardians will be able to afford the costs of caring for your pet in the manner you designate, including veterinary visits, food, pet sitting, grooming, exercising and more, without bearing the financial burden themselves.
In our own wills, my wife and I have designated portions of our life insurance to cover our dog’s expenses for her lifetime. This ensures her new guardians will provide excellent care without putting a financial burden on them.
An estate-planning attorney can help you choose the best financial tool for covering the costs of caring for your pet.
In many cases, clients can make a simple cash bequest to the new caretakers. Many of my clients, for instance, expect that one of their children will care for their pets when they are gone.
I discuss with these clients whether it makes sense to provide an extra bequest to the designated caretaker to cover pet care costs.
Other clients may need to establish more complex structures, which may include a “pet trust” or other financial tool. An estate-planning attorney will help you decide what works best for your situation.
DESIGNATING A CARETAKER
Most of us never consider who will take care of our pets after we die.
For pet owners with animal loving friends and/or family, picking a guardian for their pets isn’t a tough decision. But not everyone has that option.
What if you don’t have someone like that in your life?
Consider another hypothetical:
Mary is a 76-year-old retired nurse living in Bothell. She has two four-year-old cats, George and Abby. Mary is single, with no children.
Although Mary has a rich social life, she does not know anyone who would be a good choice to care for her beloved pets if she were to pass away during their lifetimes.
A pet-savvy estate planning attorney could help Mary find and research other options. For example, some local animal welfare organizations will foster or re-home pets in exchange for a portion of your estate.
Or Mary could appoint someone to take responsibility for finding the best possible home and guardian for her pet.
Image from Owen Hodge Lawyers.
Regardless of the plan, an estate-planning attorney should be involved to ensure that her wishes are clearly spelled out and legally binding.
Without a designated caretaker, or a plan for finding one, Mary’s cats could eventually end up in a shelter.
The Seattle area does have several excellent pet shelters rescue organizations. Still, it’s important to consider the stress and uncertain future your pet could face with this option.
Don’t get me wrong, my wife and I are forever grateful to shelters for doing such wonderful work rescuing animals – our own dog’s life was saved by two different shelters, and we both continue to support animal welfare organizations – but by making a plan for your pet, not only will you have peace of mind that your pet will be cared for, you’ll also avoid burdening the shelter system.
MORE THAN JUST SETTING ASIDE MONEY
No one knows your pet as well as you do. Documenting what you know will help your pet and a new guardian adapt more quickly to their new lives together.
Sharing the basics, such as diet, exercise and medical information is important. So is describing your pet’s personality, including all the quirks that make him or her unique.
Listing favorite toys, how to pet him/her (if at all), social skills with other people and animals, and other information will all help everyone bond more quickly.
Our complimentary Pet Profile form can help you pass your knowledge of your pet on to potential caregivers. Simply e-mail us your full name to receive a link to the form.
NEXT STEPS
- Identify one or more caretakers for your pets.
- Contact an estate planning attorney that shares your concern for your pet’s welfare.
- Execute a will that includes both a guardian and financial support for your pets.
- Email me for a Pet Profile form and share it with family members, identified caretakers, and veterinarians, and keep a copy with your will.
- Enjoy peace of mind that your commitment to your pets will last for their lifetimes.
FINAL WORD
Most everyone knows they should have an estate plan. The reality is that many people don’t bother to make one until a life event occurs that highlights the perils of not having a plan.
Be sure to talk with an estate planning attorney that understands the issues surrounding pets in estate plans.
Including your pet in a will is the best way to truly make a lifetime commitment for your pet.
About Cairn Law
Cairn Law is committed to helping our clients navigate the legal and practical issues surrounding estate planning, probate, business planning, and charitable giving. Contact John Creahan now.
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Pets are often an overlooked part of the estate planning process, but I completely agree that they are property and need a plan to ensure their care. I’ve often heard that pets are often more distraught after losing their owners than the owner is by losing a pet, so having a plan in place for your dog (or other animal) is essential to their well being.