When individuals begin the process of creating their estate plan, they often want to include their pets in some way. Pets are sometimes more of a member of the family than our actual family members. In California, individuals have the right to create trusts for their pets that will go towards caring and maintaining the pets when their owner passes on.
There are several ways an individual can go about creating a pet trust. Their choices include to created as part of their will, in its own trust, or as a part of a revocable living trust. Of course, when determining which kind of trust is best for your situation, you should consult with an experienced estate planning attorney who can guide you accordingly. If the individual does decide to create a trust, they will have to name a trustee who will be responsible for it. In many cases, the trustee is often the person who has been granted custody of the pet once the trust becomes active. A few other considerations to be made in a pet trust include:
- Who the pets preferred veterinarian is
- Health care and dietary guidance for the pet
- What should happen to any funds remaining in the pet trust after the pet passes away
If you need assistance creating a pet trust, contact us today.
Working with an experienced estate planning attorney, such as Jaci Feldman of the Woodland Hills, California, Law Office of Yacoba Ann Feldman, will ensure that you are taken care of when you need it most. Contact The Law Offices of Yacoba Ann Feldman for a consultation today.
