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A Legal Primer on Estate Planning for Pets

The following is an outline of a general discussion the legal and practical issues involved with estate planning for pets.  The accompanying web pages contain links to applicable statutes and sample language.  The Estate Planning for Pets Foundation recommends that each pet owner consult an attorney licensed and experienced in the state where the pet owner resides to assist in preparing estate planning documents of any kind.  Hopefully, this primer will be of assistance in that process.

The provisions of the primer were last updated on July 1, 2006, to reflect changes in certain statutes.

Pets in the estate planning process

About trusts for the care of pets

Pet trust statutes

Common law trusts for the care of pets

Tax considerations

Drafting estate planning documents for the care of pets

          A.       Drafting a conditional bequest to the caretaker

          B.       Drafting a statutory pet trust

          C.       Drafting trust provisions for the care of a pet

          D.       Drafting for pet care in the event of incapacity