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Pet Trusts - Providing for Your Pets if they Outlive You

Many of our clients have expressed an interest in assuring that their pets will be properly cared for if their pets outlive them.

These clients often wish to leave money in their revocable trusts or wills to a friend or family member along with an instruction to care for their pet. However, there's no guarantee the money given to an individual in this manner will actually be used to care for the pet.

Due to changes in the law it is now possible to set up a legal trust fund for a pet. Generally, the pet owner will designate a caretaker and a trustee. The caretaker will care for the animal while the trustee will provide money to the caretaker from the Pet Trust for expenses related to the pet (food, vet bills, etc.) and will assure that the pet is being properly cared for by the caretaker.
Links
Superior Court of California, Orange County, Probate Court
Superior Court of California, Los Angeles, Probate Court
Social Security Death Index -- Interactive Search
Internal Revenue Service and Publications
The State Bar of California Trusts and Estates Section