Pet Bequests

By Angie Pena-Alfaro, Paralegal

If your household is like mine and 72.9 million other US households, you have at least one pet, and if you are like 76% of Americans, you consider your pets to be part of your family. We spend time and money catering to and pampering our fur-babies; however, most people give little thought about what will happen to them when we die.

I have four (yes, four!) cats that I have adopted or that have adopted me. They are loving and affectionate with me, but shy and skittish when it comes to others. So I am concerned about what will happen to them if or when I am no longer able to care for them.

Here at CHA Law Group, since our families also include fur-babies, we know the importance of making sure all of your babies, including your four-legged ones, are protected after you pass away. When crafting your will, don’t forget to include a special pet bequest that will designate who will become your pets’ guardian if you are not around anymore. If you have cats, and the majority of your estate is going to a dog person, you may need to do a pet bequest to a cat-lady friend. You can also designate funds to help their guardian keep your fur-baby in the lifestyle that they are used to.