{"id":2854,"date":"2021-07-21T19:01:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-22T02:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bryantelderlaw.com\/?p=2854"},"modified":"2021-09-05T18:29:58","modified_gmt":"2021-09-06T01:29:58","slug":"pets-and-estate-planning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bryantelderlaw.com\/pets-and-estate-planning\/","title":{"rendered":"Pets and Estate Planning"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you consider estate planning<\/a>, you likely think about your property and your close family members, such as your spouse or your children. But what about another important member of the family \u2013 your pet? What will happen to your beloved dog, cat, or bird if something happens to you? California is a state that provides legal tools to plan ahead to make sure that your pet has proper care once you cannot care for them.<\/p>\n

Guardianship of Your Pet<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One way to ensure that your pet is cared for is to designate someone to serve as your pet\u2019s guardian should you pass away. You can do this as a provision in your\u00a0last will and testament<\/a>. You can also leave assets and property for your pet in your will, so the guardian has sufficient funds to dedicate to the care of your pet, including food, grooming, and vet bills. Know, however, that if you do this through a will provision, you will not be able to control how the pet guardian uses that money after you pass away.<\/p>\n

Creating a Pet Trust<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you want to have more control over how your assets are spent for your pet\u2019s benefit, you have other options. This is because, since 1991, the\u00a0California Probate Code<\/a>\u00a0has allowed pet owners to set up special trusts for the benefit of their pets, as follows:<\/p>\n