Bart and Janowsky Quoted on Dos and Don’ts for Pet Estate Planning

These best practices include naming someone in the will to take ownership of the pet, creating a revocable trust that authorizes a trustee to use funds to care for the pet, and discussing the appropriate amount of funds necessary to care for the pet for the remainder of its life.

Though many pet owners choose to transfer direct pet ownership to a custodian, Susan said it may be better to leave ownership with the trust and authorize the trustee to manage the funds and play the role of “enforcer.”

“As an enforcer, the trustee would be authorized to make house visits, speak to the veterinarian, and make sure they understand how the money is being spent and that the pet is well cared for by the appointed caretaker,” Susan said. “The trustee should have the power to replace the custodian with a new one.”

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