Estate Planning for Pet Owners
Helping your clients to plan for their pets’ care is critically important. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that 4 to 5 million pets are euthanized annually, with more than a million of these as a direct result of the failure on the part of the owners to provide for their pets in the event of death or disability.
Common law pet trusts are available in all states. In addition, 46 states (plus D.C.) have adopted pet trust statutes that permit pet owners to include their pets in their estate plans. But there are many things to consider, including provision of food, shelter, exercise, companionship, etc.
Join nationally recognized practitioners Professor Gerry W. Beyer, Texas Tech University School of Law, Lubbock; Eden Rose Brown, Law Office of Eden Rose Brown, Portland; and Peggy R. Hoyt, The Law Offices of Hoyt & Bryan, LLC, Oviedo, FL; for a practical discussion of successful planning techniques to assure that clients’ furry or feathered companions enjoy proper care when they survive their owners.