Leona Helmsley Spurs Interest in Pet Trusts

As discussed earlier on this blog, it appears that Leona Helmsley’s dog, Trouble, will benefit from $12 million left in trust.

The publicity (including unending jokes by late night comedians) has increased public awareness of pet trusts and has triggered increased interest in estate planning by pet owners as reported to me by many attorneys and as reflected in reports such as AP, Trouble’s $12M trust fund part of new legal trend, CNN.com, Aug. 31, 2007 which states:

A growing number of people, not all wealthy, have been setting up trust funds or adjusting their wills to ensure that their pets are well cared for if they die, according to attorneys and animal welfare groups.

Special thanks to Adam J. Hirsch (William and Catherine VanDercreek Professor of Law, Florida State University College of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.