• Supporting Our Clients and the Community During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
    • Skip to primary navigation
    • Skip to main content
    • Skip to primary sidebar
    • Skip to footer
    • Home
    • Our Firm
      • About Our Firm
      • Attorney and Staff Profiles
      • Communities We Serve
        • Bergen County
        • Clifton
        • Essex County
        • Hudson County
        • Hunterdon County
        • Middlesex County
          • Edison
          • Woodbridge
        • Morris County
        • Passaic County
        • Somerset County
          • Hillsborough
          • Warren
        • Sussex County
          • Franklin
        • Union County
          • Plainfield
    • Services
      • Asset & Business Planning
      • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
      • Estate Planning Services
      • Incapacity Planning
      • IRA & Retirement Planning
      • Legacy Planning Services
      • Medicaid and Elder Law
      • SECURE Act
      • Special Needs Planning
      • Trust Administration
    • Webinars
    • Resources
      • Elder Law
        • Elder Law & Medicaid Definitions
        • Elder Law reports
        • Elder Law Resources
          • Plainfield Elder Law
      • Estate Planning
        • Estate Planning Checkup
        • Estate Planning Definitions
        • Incapacity Planning Definitions
        • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
        • New Jersey Estate Planning Resources
        • Top 10 Estate and Legacy Planning Techniques
      • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
      • Free Seminars
      • Frequently Asked Questions
        • Business Succession Planning
        • Estate Planning
        • Elder Law
        • Estate Planning for Women
        • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
        • Legacy Wealth Planning
        • LGBTQ Estate Planning
        • Medicaid
        • Trust Administration & Probate
        • Wills and Trusts
      • Newsletters
      • Pre Consultation Form
      • Probate and Trust Administration
        • Bereavement Resources
        • How to Know if You Need Extra Help With Your Grieving
        • Loss of a Loved One
        • Probate Resources
          • Hillsborough Township Probate
          • Plainfield Probate
        • The Mourner’s Bill of Rights
        • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Trust
        • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Will
        • Trust Administration & Probate Definitions
      • Published Books
    • Reviews
      • Our Reviews
      • Review Us
    • Blog
    • Contact Us

    Augulis Law Firm

    New Jersey Estate Planning Information Center

    Connect with us today(908) 222-8803

    • Attend A Seminar
      • Attend A Webinar
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkdin
    • Youtube
    Committed to helping New Jersey families preserve and protect their wealth.
    Home » Estate Planning Articles » Puppy Love: Planning Your Estate With a Pet Trust

    Puppy Love: Planning Your Estate With a Pet Trust

    March 31, 2011

    Compliments of Our Law Firm,
    By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

    We love our pets. Each year, Americans spend billions upon billions of dollars to make sure that our dogs, cats, and assorted other animal friends are well taken care of. The American Pet Products Association estimates that in 2010, Americans spent more than $18 billion on pet food, more than $11 billion on medications and supplies, and more than $12 billion on veterinary care.

    Increasingly, pet owners are not just worried about providing for our pets during our lifetimes, we want to ensure that they get all the love and care they need after we’re gone, too. This is evidenced by the fact that an increasing number of states have passed laws allowing pet owners to establish trusts for their pets.

    The Old Way Wasn’t Enough

    It used to be that those who wanted to provide for their pets after passing away simply used their Will to name a caregiver for the pet, and left funds to that caregiver to cover the pet’s expenses. This solution, however, proved to be less than ideal in many circumstances. At the pet owner’s death, the pet belonged to the new caregiver, as did the owner’s bequest of money. The new caregiver was under no obligation to spend the funds on the pet. In fact, there was no obligation for the caregiver to even keep the pet. In addition, the arrangement only provided for the pet after the owner’s death. It didn’t provide a way to make sure the pet was taken care of in the event of the owner’s disability.

    How Does a Pet Trust Work?

    Unlike these older arrangements that left a pet’s future uncertain, a pet trust provides checks and balances to help make sure that, in the event of your death or disability, your pet is cared for according to your wishes and standards.

    When you establish a pet trust, you’ll name a caregiver for your pet, as well as backup caregivers. The caregiver is responsible for taking care of your pet according to the instructions you build into the trust. For instance, you can provide directions for your pet’s diet and feeding schedule, veterinary care, exercise, grooming, and the disposition of your pet’s remains.

    You’ll also name a trustee and backup trustees. The trustee’s job is to manage the money you put in trust for your pet’s care, and to help ensure that the caregiver is performing his or her duties. You have the option of naming the same person to serve as caregiver and trustee or you can name different individuals for these roles, providing an added layer of accountability for each.

    A pet trust is a wonderful way to ensure that your pet is well cared for, even if you can’t be there. A qualified estate planning attorney can help you include a pet trust in your overall estate plan, ensuring that your pets remain happy and healthy no matter what the future brings.

    About Alan Augulis, Estate Planning Attorney

    Mr. Augulis founded his Warren, New Jersey law firm so that he could focus his practice in the areas of advanced estate planning and tax law. Mr. Augulis has invested considerable time and energy helping to educate others on the topic of estate planning and has become a sought-after speaker in the tax and estate planning arena because of his informative and entertaining seminars.

    Primary Sidebar

    Augulis Law Firm

    Free Estate Planning Worksheet

    There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.
    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

    Follow Us

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkdin
    • Youtube

    Testimonials

    Client Review
    August 4, 2020
        

    Very happy with work. Everything explained clearly and concisely and all my questions were answered completely. Process of putting together plan and review of documents was very organized and easy to understand.

    norm

    Where we are

    Augulis Law Firm
    5 Mountain Blvd. Suite 5
    Warren Twp, NJ 07059
    Phone: (908) 222-8803
    Fax: (908) 222-8815

    See Larger Map Get Directions

    Office Hours

    Monday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Tuesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Wednesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Thursday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Friday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Map

    map

    Footer

    • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy
    • Sitemap
    • Contact Us

    Connect with Us

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkdin
    • Youtube
    footer-logo

    Augulis Law Firm
    All Right Reseved.

    Attorney Advertisement

    © 2022 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.