Estate Planning for Pets CLE

The ABA Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law is sponsoring a 90 minute teleconference and live audio webcast CLE entitled Ensure the Pet’s Continued Care:Advising Your Clients about Planning for Their Pet’s Care on Feb. 2, 2010. 

A description of the program is below:

Most clients consider their pets important members of their family. The law often treats them as another piece of personal property, without regard for their role in the client’s life. This leads to uncertainty about what happens to them if the client dies or becomes unable to care for their pets. Lifetime issues can also arise, including custody upon divorce and a landlord deciding the pet is no longer allowed.

During this program our panel will:

• Address the pros and cons of trusts and agreements – legal protection for pets continued care – versus a will and administrative application;
• Discuss the taxation of pet trusts and the use of life insurance for pets;
• Discuss planning for lifetime concerns of pet owners, including treatment of the pet in a divorce or marital agreement, veterinary malpractice, and landlord-tenant disputes.