Today we continue our series on considering a pet trust...

We are also paying tribute to our favorite neighborhood mascot, Norton.  He's pictured above.  He is currently battling an aggressive form of cancer. 

There are five major steps that you need to consider when setting up a pet trust.  We will cover the first three in this article.

Steps to Set Up a Pet Trust

1. Choose a caretaker. It is important to give thought to who will be the best caretaker for your pet. Be sure to obtain the consent of the person you would like to care for your pet: Don’t just assume someone is able or willing to take on the role. You can also name back-up caretakers if the initial caretaker is unwilling or becomes unable to care for your pet in the future.
2. Choose a trustee. One way to ensure that the money you provide in the trust is used only for the benefit of your beloved pet is to appoint a separate person to be the trustee. In this case, the person caring for your pet is not the same person managing the money, providing a check on the caretaker and oversight on how the money is spent. The trustee can be a trustworthy person who is good at managing money but not at providing day-to-day care for a pet.
3. Include instructions for pet care. These instructions can be included in the terms of the trust, but a better option may be to set forth the instructions in a separate document that is referenced in the trust agreement. The use of a separate document will enable you to easily update or modify the care instructions in the event that your pet’s needs change over time. You can provide specific instructions for exercise and grooming, general care, medical care, and even a memorial for your pet.

Contact Us for Help

If you are concerned about what will happen to your pets if you are unable to care for them, we can help you make arrangements for their care. You can gain peace of mind by not leaving your pet’s future up to chance. A pet trust will ensure that your beloved companions are well cared for and that your wishes are respected. Use the contact us form on this website for your FREE 15-minute consultation regarding setting up a pet trust.