When you are putting together your estate plan, you consider all aspects of your life: your family, your home, your finances and more. However, are you leaving out one important member of your family? What happens to your beloved pet if the unexpected (or expected, depending on how you think about it) happens?
Perhaps you are assuming that your family members will automatically take your pet in, and in many situations, they very may well have no problem taking your dog, cat or other pet. Keep in mind, however, that you should never assume. You may want your animals to go to whoever has your children should you pass away before your children are adults. If you do not discuss this with the potential guardians, you could be assuming that these individuals will do something they have no intention of doing. Talk with your listed guardians and get an idea of what they want. If they do not feel comfortable accommodating pets in addition to your children, that may sway your decision on your children’s guardian. If you are in a divorced parent situation and your child’s other parent will be the first “guardian,” and you have concerns as to whether he or she will take your child’s pet, speak with that parent. Get an idea of what will happen in that situation.
It is always recommended you explicitly list out what your wishes are with respect to your pets. If you would like to leave a set amount of money for whoever takes in your pet, you can also do this to help off-set the financial burden. Your estate plan can be whatever you want it to be. Discuss it with your estate attorney to see what works best for your situation.
At Sullivan Law, we offer estate planning packages at a flat and reasonable fee. We also offer free consultations to discuss what your needs are, what you would like to do, and how that can be best accomplished. Everyone’s needs are different, and your wishes should be clearly listed and understood.
Call us at 248.917.1351 or email at asullivan@sullivanlawonline.com to schedule your free consultation today. We look forward to working with you!