Pet Trusts

Given the costs of care and the longevity of some types of pets, planning in this area can be very beneficial.  In a pet trust, you can name a human caregiver as the beneficiary of a trust, and require that the distributions be dependent upon the beneficiary caring appropriately for the pet.

The trust can be funded through many vehicles at the time of your death and does not have to be funded during your life.  Your pet’s current standard of care determines the endowment amount required. Factors include life expectancy, the cost of daily care, annual veterinary care, emergency care, grooming, boarding, and exercising.  Additional factors may apply in particular cases.