Providing for pets after we are gone.

[Julie, Izzie & Max]

This may be a morbid discussion.  But my husband and I have been in the process of updating our will in the last few weeks and after I saw the discussion Jane started earlier about having a place set up for her doodles in the event she is unable to care for them.

We are trying to put our preferences in our will as to where our pets go.  Our first choice would be for our pets to go to live with our son who our pets love and would be comfortable with if something should happen to both my husband and me.  But at the present time, he lives in a very small one bedroom apartment in Chicago and would not be able to take our five pets (3dogs & 2 cats).

We are looking into a back-up plan and are considering have a trust fund set up from our estate  to provide for our pets for the remainder of their life.  Has anyone does this?  We are asking select family members who love animals and also a local no-kill shelter (we know the lady who runs it) who could place them in a home hopefully together or the cats together and the dogs together.  We are very confused in how to best provide for them if this event should occur.  We do hope to remain alive and well for the rest of their lives.

We are struggling with how to set this up.  We know that we cannot control what happens after we are gone but would like to do our best to make sure they are well cared if we are unable.

Did anyone make plans for their pets in their will? 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

My will and trust have provisions for Jack.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Julie, you may want to mention in your will that how the pets should be cared for if you are in a nursing home as well.  Many times people just think when they pass, but don't consider that they may end up in a nursing home for the remainder of their life, still alive, and the house, pets, etc. still need to be cared for.  Unless you appoint someone power of attorney but you need to be very specific.  There are Elder / Estate attorneys that specialize in this type of thing. 

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Good point!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Jane Smith posted in Jane's discussion that she works with this stuff all the time maybe leave her a comment on her page??

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's hard to talk about this without getting into very personal issues. In some cases, the person that would be your first choice to care for your pets may not currently be in a situation that would permit that- your son in his one-bedroom apartment, for example. BUT- there may be a sizable inheritance that could radically change that person's living situation and allow for the care of your pets. The question then becomes, would your son like to live in a larger home that would be more conducive to caring for your pets, if it were financially possible?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you have to look at the whole picture. My children could not currently afford Jack's vet bills and care. But if I were dead, they could, lol.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

LOL

Good Point Karen....I think I will rub this in my daughter's face, something like "you know if something happens to Dad and I so and so will be getting your inheritance to care for Daisy.

That should go over well.

[Doris]

That's "funny" Karen!  This discussion can make us uncomfortable, but we need to look at the whole picture!

 

[Julie, Izzie & Max]

Our son would be able to able to afford a new home with a yard if my husband and I were both gone. He is currently in graduate school in Chicago and loves it and will probably remain there after he finishes school.   I think he would want our pets but what if something happens to him before us.  One of our cats is 17 years old and would be hard to place if he does not take her.  We do need a back-up plan.  I had not thought of what would happen if we were in a nursing home.  We have to make some kind of provision for that. 

Jennifer, Is Jane Smith her DK name?

I appreciate all the suggestions and advise.  There are a lot of things to consider.  We will have to do more research on this. 

 

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Yes Jane Smith is her DK name. You can go to the members tab on the top of the main page and typer her name in the search box-she is the one in Arizona not NJ OR just go to Jane's adoption discussion below and clink on Jane Smith's picture in the responses.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have included a provision, not formally in my will but with the important papers about money for the dog's care. My son who will be executor knows about this but I really need to talk to him again. And the nursing home provision is not provided for. I will do all in my power to avoid something like that though and I do have long term care insurance that allows me to stay in my home.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

F brings up what is to me the most important point in this whole issue: the person you name as executor. You can put whatever you want in a will or a trust, but if the person who is in charge of executing your instructions and wishes does otherwise, there's very little anyone can do about that. Yes, there is legal recourse, but someone has to pursue it, usually at a cost so great that the end result is to deplete whatever there was to begin with. Unfortunately, I have extensive experience with the ramifications of someone's naming an inappropriate executor.

Choose wisely, and have back-up: make sure your heirs know your wishes ahead of time.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

My inlaws are dealing with that right now - naming an inappropriate executor is the worst thing you can do.  My grandmother (inlaw) named each sister is in charge of a different trust - one for health, one for the will, and one for some other I can't remember.

It's a mess.  Select the right person - that's what my DH tells clients (he does wills for family and friends but it's not his main practice focus).