Providing For Your Pets After You Die
As a Delaware lawyer who prepares Wills and loves animals, I’m pleased to say that Delaware is one of the states that allows us to create a trust for the care of our pets after we die. So, if you have 1 or more animals and you’re concerned about what will happen to them after you die, you should consider changing your Will to include a “pet trust.” It’s very easy to do this. You keep your original Will, and we prepare a new document called a “Codicil” which contains the changes you want to make.
A “pet trust” allows you to leave money for the benefit of your pet. You name a person to be the trustee. This person will be manage and spend the money you have set aside for your pet. You can include a set of instructions so the trustee will know how you want your pet cared for. For example, you could explain the kind of food that your pet eats, and how often your pet should be fed. You can also include instructions about medication, veterinary care, etc.
Besides naming the trustee, you can also name a “caretaker,” the person who your pet will live with. This is a good idea when the trustee knows how to manage money but doesn’t necessarily want to take care of your pet on a day-to-day basis.
The pet trust would also name a person or an organization to receive any of the funds that are left in the trust when your pet dies.
