What is a Pet Trust?

“Animals are sentient, intelligent, perceptive, funny and entertaining. We owe them a duty of care as we do to children.”

• Michael Morpurgo, English book author, poet, playwright & librettist

Pets today are truly members of our family. We have birthday parties for them…we include them on holiday cards…we get them special beds and toys…we organize playdates…we get them massages…we even create social media pages for them. The bonds between pets and their owners are unmistakably strong, sometimes rivaling the bonds between parents and children. It only makes sense that people would want to protect their furry/feathery/scaly friends in the event they are unable to care for them anymore.

A Pet Trust  is a legal document that allows you to name a guardian to care for your animal(s) in the event you become incapacitated or pass away. The trust can be quite detailed in the care instructions, even stating the preferred veterinarian, feeding instructions, grooming schedule, groomer, boarding, etc. You can help the guardian you choose care for your pet by providing monetary compensation (monthly or yearly payments, for example) for the care. The guardian must be on board with providing this level of care for your pet(s).

If you become incapacitated or pass away without a pet trust, your personal representative will decide who will care for your pets. If this is acceptable to you, there is no need to create this type of legal document. However, if you want to ensure that your pets are cared for the way you want them to be, the Denver pet protection lawyers at The Brown Law Firm, LLC can help you determine if a pet trust is the right document for your unique situation. It may be beneficial to create a Pet Trust in Denver if you plan to leave your pet a substantial amount of money. The investment in this process is well worth your peace of mind. Call (303) 339-3750 or send us a message online to learn more.