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ESTATE PLANNING FOR YOUR OTHER CHILDREN – YOUR PETS

If you have a pet but have not made plans for that pet should something extraordinarly bad happen, now's the time to do it. They deserve to be in our wills just like our property since they are much more than just property.

Via Sharon Richards (Kirsten Realty Tampa Florida):

I have been thinking about this for awhile but with the passing of 2 kitties - one this week and the other last Christmas, I am not ready to implement a plan for I am surviving my pets. So, what will happen when your pet survives you?   Do you have a plan? Do not assume you're good friend or relative will step up to the plate. This is an unwise assumption. This is the checklist I have come up with and maybe, you can add a few other pointers.

•1.       Designate someone to assume ownership

•2.       Keep in touch with this person to see if they are still willing

•3.       Authorize payments for food, veterinary care, grooming, etc.

•4.       Ask an attorney how to include language that will protect our pets in estate planning

•5.       Name a Trust Protector to oversee a pet's new owner and any funds set aside for the pets care

•6.       Carry a pet alert wallet card

The best news the SPCA Tampbay offers "The Pet Owner's Guide to Estate Planning for Pets" a pet alert wallet card and pet profile forms. To request any of the FREE materials call 727-581-3249 or visit www.spcatampabay.org

Posted by Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor on 10/23/2009 08:53 PM

Comments (8)

Originally posted at: Jim's blog: ESTATE PLANNING FOR YOUR OTHER CHILDREN – YOUR PETS

8 Comments on ESTATE PLANNING FOR YOUR OTHER CHILDREN – YOUR PETS

OCT

Jim - Thank you so much for spreading the word. My Kitties are family to me and I am sure alot of other people feel the same way. I never thought about this till I lost two of my precious kitties.

Hi Jim - I also have a decal on the front window of my home that says: In case of fire, please rescue cats inside. Our cats are indoor and outdoor, so I would hope that in a fire they would run outside, but what they usually do when frightened is to hide in the furthest corner in the back bedroom, under the bed. I'd just like to let emergency workers that we do have cats.

I inherited a cat from my uncle when he died. I had no idea that he thought enough about me to leave me his cat.

Interesting post...we took in my mother-in-law's dog the night she passed away while I was with her at lunch. It was a somewhat traumatic event for all concerned. I couldn't believe she died in front of me so it was comforting to have her dog with me. And, unbeknownst to all of us, she HAD, in her will, specified that her beloved Jerry was to be taken care of until he died with food, vet bills, and anything else...the remainder to be dispersed after he passed on. Not all of it, of course, but several thousand set aside for him. We were judicious, and submitted bills, but he really never lacked...no limo rides or anything!!!LOL. He died a happy dog, I think. Better than what happens to most older pets of older people. I love to adopt the older pets, because they thrive on the love of the lost.

It is important to plan for our pets.... too often they become homeless! I am glad you reblogged this post.

I'm not a pet owner, so had never considered this before. I would like to think that pet owners in general, because of their love and devotion to their four legged family members, would have thought out a plan to implement if their pets survive them.

OCT

Hi Jim: This is fabulous advice! Thanks for re-blogging it!

OCT

Great idea...I need to make time to do this, my boys are animal lovers like me but they do need instructions and the details.

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