Pets in Estate Planning

Many pets find themselves without a home when their owners pass away. Without a plan in place, these furry friends may find themselves facing a dire situation in a local animal shelter after their owner’s death. In states like Maine, it is possible for owners to include pets in their wills in order to set up a trust for their care. Carol and Dave Santora, Maine residents and animal lovers, hired an attorney to accomplish this task. Biscuit and Dixie, the Santora’s dogs, will be given to the Animal Welfare Society upon the Santoras’ demise. Funds will be set aside for the shelter to care for the dogs and they may also be used to provide support for any family that adopts the dogs. Working with an attorney to plan for their animals’ welfare provides peace-of-mind for the Santoras so they can concentrate on enjoying their pets now.

See Julia Bayly, A Trust Fund for a Pooch? How Some Mainers Are Including Their Pets in Estate Planning, BDN Maine, May 28, 2017.

Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse (Professional Legal Marketing (PLM, Inc.)) for bringing this article to my attention.