In The Event of Your Death or Hospitalization 

Introduction

Planning for Your Pets in Your Will 

Planning for Short-Term Pet Care

Samples

Introduction

For many people, particularly the elderly, a pet is an important and comforting part of life, and the care and well-being of the pet is a primary concern.

With this in mind, there are three situations in which a pet owner should plan for the care of the pet.

1 On the death of the pet owner, provisions are necessary in the pet owner's Will, to provide effectively for comfort and care for the pet.

2 On the death of the pet owner, advance arrangements should be made to protect the pet, during the period between the owner's death and the admission of the Will to probate.

Too often this period is not considered. Although a Will can make provisions for the care of the pet, no action can be taken by the Executor to carry out these provisions until the Will has been admitted to probate and the Executor has received the authority to proceed by the issuance of letters testamentary The time between death and the authority of the Executor to act can vary between several weeks and several months. Plans must be made to ensure care for the pet during this interim period.

3 Upon the incapacity or hospitalization of the pet owner, advance arrangements should be made to ensure care of the pet while the pet owner is hospitalized or incapacitated.

The purpose of this brochure is to suggest various programs a pet owner can consider in order to provide for the comfort and care of his/her pet under any of these circumstances. In addition, this brochure includes information and sample Will provisions which may be useful to attorneys who prepare Wills for clients with pets.*

* This brochure and the accompanying sample Will provisions are not offered as legal advice and should not be relied upon without the independent advice of a qualified attorney concentrating in trust and estate matters.

Designating Caretakers

A pet owner should find a friend or relative willing to take his/her animal and give it a good home on the death of the pet owner. The matter should be discussed in advance with the potential caretaker to make sure the animal will be cared for appropriately. The person who will receive an animal as the result of a bequest in a Will should understand that he or she becomes the animal's owner and, assuch, has all the rights and responsibilities of ownership.

The pet owner should then ask a qualified attorney to draft his/her Will, leaving the animal to the caretaker the pet owner has selected. It is best to name alternate caretakers in the Will in case the first-named person is unable or unwilling to take the animal when the time comes. An example of such a Will provision appears in Sample Will Provision I.

Another alternative is to give the Executor the discretion to select from among several caretakers prearranged and named by the pet owner in his/her Will. An example of this type of Will provision appears in Sample Will Provision II.

Providing Funds for Pet Care

Under the laws of all 50 states, a pet owner cannot leave any part of his or her estate outright to an animal. However, the owner may leave a sum of money to the person designated to care for the pet, along with a request (not a direction) that the money be used for the pet's care. It is important for the pet owner to select a caretaker he/she trusts and who will be devoted to the pet, because the caretaker has no legal obligation under the above provision to use the money for the purpose specified.

The owner should leave only a reasonable amount of money for the care of any pet. A large sum of money may prompt relatives to challenge the Will and the court may invalidate the bequest for pet care. The attorney may want to include an "in terrorem" clause in the pet owner's Will to reduce the chance of a challenge to the Will. This clause provides that if a person unsuccessfully challenges a provision in the Will, he or she cannot then receive property under any provision of the Will.

Designating a Shelter or Charitable Organization to Care for Pets

If no friend or relative can be found to take the pet, the pet owner should look for a charitable organization whose function is to care for or place companion animals. A humane society or shelter might agree to accept the animal along with a cash bequest to cover expenses. An example of this type of Will provision appears in Sample Will Provision III.

The charity should agree to take care of the animal for its life or find an adoptive home for the animal. Before selecting a shelter, find out what kind of care animal receive at the shelter (for example, an animal should not have to stay for more than a short period in a cage). If the organization is directed to find an adoptive home for the companion animal in its care, the pet owner should obtain detailed information about the adoption procedure.

Making A Conditional Bequest

New York and some other states allow the pet owners to make a "conditional bequest" in which both the animal and a sum of money are left to a beneficiary who must use the money for the care of the animal.

A conditional bequest has the advantage of requiring the recipient to care for the pet but adds to the Executor's responsibility the task of ensuring that the person receiving the money fulfills his or her commitment. The pet owner, therefore, has to select an Executor willing to undertake this added responsibility. If a pet owner wants a conditional bequest, the attorney drafting the will must consider the relevant law concerning such provisions, since they can be invalidated by the courts and are therefore not recommended.

Establishing a Trust for Animals

Under the law of most states, an animal cannot be made the beneficiary of a trust. In a few states, persons can create trusts for animals, but such trusts are honorary, i.e. unenforceable in the courts, and effective only if the trustee chooses to abide by the terms of the trust instrument. However, a small but growing number of states, including New York, have enacted statutes so that trusts for animals can be created and can be enforced in the courts. Trusts in these states are not honorary even though they may be referred to as such.

In all states where a trust for animals can be created, the trust cannot exceed 21 years, even if the life span of a particular animal is longer. The trustee appointed in the trust will be directed to the trust instrument to use the funds in the trust to care for the animals. If the trustee cannot take physical possession of the animals, a separate person should be named as the caretaker.

In the states where trusts for animals are not permitted, a trust for human beneficiaries can include a provision that the trustee may use trust property to pay for the care of animals, as payment for such care benefits the human beneficiaries.

Providing for Euthanasia If Caretakers Cannot Be Found

Provisions in a Will directing that an animal be euthanized upon the death of its owner have been invalidated by the courts. While a pet owner may feel it is important to protect a pet from subsequent mistreatment or a "bad home," it is questionable whether a healthy pet's life must end by euthanasia when its owner dies. Nevertheless, if a pet owner wishes to provide for euthanasia, it is preferable to specify in a Will that the pet be cared for by the Executor or a friend for a period of time and ask that this person attempt to find a good home for the pet, and if no home is found after a specified reasonable period of time, that the animal may betaken for euthanasia. A court may be less likely to overturn such a provision. An example of this type of Will provision appears at the end of this document (Sample Will provision IV).

An alternative is to write a letter to a friend or relative stating that upon the death of the pet owner, the animal should be euthanized. (A signed copy should be given in advance to the friend or relative and another signed copy should be held with the Will but not made part of the Will). The letter is not legally binding and the friend or relative is not obligated to carry out the instructions of the pet owner.

Euthanasia performed pursuant to a letter from the pet owner is also subject to court challenge.

It is preferable that permission of those relatives or other persons or charities who take the balance of the estate the residuary beneficiaries-be obtained before any animals are euthanized, as the residuary beneficiaries could complain that the animal is part of the estate property and should pass to them. This is unlikely, but it has happened.

It should be noted that if you bequeath your animal to a friend or relative, that person becomes the owner and has all the rights and obligations of the pet's care, including the right to euthanize the animal.

Providing Funds for Pet Care During Transitional Period

Finally, a provision which should be included in all Wills where an animal is involved, is one allowing the Executor to use estate funds to care for the animal for the period before the animal goes to the new home designated by the pet owner. The Will should state that the costs of food, veterinary care, transportation and other expenses incurred by the Executor in caring for the decedent's pet is to be paid from the estate as an estate administration expense, whether or not the expenses are deductible for estate tax purposes. An example of this type of Will provision appears on "Sample Will Provision V".

Short-term arrangements for care of a pet are necessary to cover the period between the death of the pet owner and the issuance of letters testamentary or letters of administration. These letters give the Executor or Administrator authority to act, but depending on the jurisdiction, it may take from two weeks to two months to obtain them. Short-term arrangements are also necessary if the owner is hospitalized for a period of time.

Arranging For Friends/Relatives To Provide Short-Term Care

A pet owner should try to find a friend or relative who is willing to take care for his/her pet during these periods. The owner should leave word, preferably in writing, at home and with a neighbor, or with the building management and/or superintendent for the friend or relative to be notified. The pet owner should arrange for access to his/her home to permit the care and feeding of the pet during such short -term periods. If an apartment is involved, the owner should consider leaving a key with the superintendent or a neighbor. If there is a relative or friend in the area, the owner should consider providing that individual with a key and with written permission to the building management to enter the apartment in the event of the death or hospitalization of the pet owner.

Arranging for a Shelter or Charitable Organization to Provide Short-Term Care

There may be an animal shelter or charitable organization with which arrangements can be made to care for a pet in the event of the death or hospitalization of the pet owner. Should the owner make such arrangements, shelter personnel would need written instructions addressed to the superintendent or building management and the key to permit them access. Similarly, the pet owner should leave written instructions in his/her home and with a relative or friend to notify the shelter (if a shelter is chosen) or the individual who has agreed to take care of the pet during this period.

Emergency Instructions

Once the pet owner has decided upon such arrangements for the short-term care and feeding of the pet in the event of the pet owner's hospitalization or death, the owner should carry a copy of the instructions as part of his/her identification papers in the event of sudden hospitalization or death due to an accident or illness. An example of the type of instructions to carry appears at the end of this document.

Providing Copies of Instructions to An Executor

Finally, in the event of death, and to cover the interim period while letter stestamentary are being obtained, the Executor named in your Will should also be given copies of all applicable instructions.

In conclusion, the best way to assure proper care for a pet under the circumstances described is to make both testamentary and short-term arrangements for the pet now and to have a Will drafted by a qualified attorney. Making such arrangements may entail a significant amount of effort on the part of the pet owner, but is important so that the pet owner's animal is cared for in the event of the owner's hospitalization, incapacity or death.

Sample Will Provision I

I give my [cat, Ginger], and any other animals which I may own at the time of my death, to [Mary Smith], presently residing at[address], with the request that she treat them as companion animals. If she is unable or unwilling to accept my animals, I give such animals to [John Doe], presently residing at [address] with the request that he treat them as companion animals. If he is unable or unwilling to accept my animals, my Executor shall select an appropriate person to accept the animals and treat them as companion animals, and I give my animals to such person.

I direct my Executor to give [$_] from my estate to the person who accepts my animals, and I request (but do not direct)that these funds be used for the care of my animals.

Sample Will Provision 11

My Executor shall give [my dogs] to one or more of the following persons who agree to care for such [dogs] and to treat them as companion animals:

[Mary Smith], presently residing at[address].

[John Doe], presently residing at[address].

[James Smith], presently residing at[address].

My Executor shall have the discretion to select one or more of the persons named above to receive one or more of the [dogs].If none of such persons are willing or able to take the [dogs], my Executor shall have the discretion to give the [days] to another person or persons who agree to care for such [dogs] and to treat them as companion animals.

My Executor shall give [$ ] to each person selected by my Executor and who accepts one or more of my [dogs].

Sample Will Provision 111

I give all of my [dogs' cats, and other animals] to the [Humane Shelter], presently located at [address], with the following requests:

. that the [Humane Shelter] take possession of and care for all my animals and search for good homes for them;

. that until homes are found for my animals, the animals be placed in foster homes rather than in cages at the shelter;

. that if it is necessary to keep some of the animals in cages while making arrangements to fend permanent homes, in no event should any animal stay more than a total of 2 weeks in a cage;

. that each animal should receive appropriate veterinary care, as needed;

. that after attempts have been made for 3months to place an animal, my [son], presently residing at [address], be contacted if it is not possible to place an animal so that he can assist with finding a home for the animal;

. that the shelter make every effort to assure that none of my animals are ever used for medical research or product testing or painful experimentation under any circumstances:

. that, after placement, shelter personnel make follow-up visits to assure that my animals are receiving proper care in their new homes.

If the [Humane Shelter] is in existence at the time of my death and is able to accept my animals, I give [$_ to the Humane Shelter]If the [Humane Shelter] is unable to accept my animals, I give my animals and [$ / to one or more similar charitable organizations as my Executor shall select, subject to the requests made above.

Sample Will: Provision IV

My [cat, Ginger], shall be delivered to[Mary Smith or John Doe] for temporary holding. The Executor shall determine the amount from the estate to go with the animal for such temporary care and feeding. The Executor shall advertise and otherwise make diligent efforts to find a good home for the animal, taking a reasonable amount of money for these purposes from the estate. If no home can be found after [ ] months, the animal shall be taken to [name and address of veterinarian]to be euthanized by the most humane method the veterinarian has competency to use.

Sample Will Provision V

I direct my Executor to pay, as an administration expense' all expenses associated with the feeding and care, including veterinary costs, of my [dogs and cats] until the animals are placed with the persons that I (or my Executor) have selected to care for the [dogs and cats] for the duration of their lives, whether or not these expenses are deductible for estate tax purposes.

Sample Note to Carry in Wallet Regarding Emergency Care of Pets
 
 

In any situation in which I am unable to return home to feed my pets, such as my hospitalization or death, please immediately call [Mary Smith] at [address and phone] or[John Doe] at [address and phone], to arrange for the feeding of my [cats] located in my home at [address]. The superintendent of my apartment building [name, address and phone],my Executor [name, address and phone], and my neighbor [name, address and phone] have a copy of this document.

• William J. Thomashower, Chair

Neil H. Abramson
Frances B. Carlisle*
Marjorie Cramer
Ralph B. Dell
Charles D. Finkelstein
Robin Fitelson
Paul 1.. Franken*
Jane Ellen Hoffman
Ira it Jolles
Dori Lewis
Jolene R. Marion
Laura Melissa Mattera
Colleen Mary McIntosh**
Anne Louise Oates
Barbara D. Savage
Dennis Stark
David Stein
Lisa Beth Weisberg

• *Principal authors

** Committee Secretary
Editor: Lilou Irvine
Production: Carla Albergo, Libby Poulin
Illustrations: Elizabeth Ocskay