Adding Pets to Estate Plans: Meet Benny
Adding pets to estate plans: you can’t leave your dog or cat a credit card, but you can make sure they’re taken care of forever.
When Mia adopted Benny, a 12-week-old golden retriever with paws too big for his body and a tail that knocked over everything in sight, she knew she was signing up for years of belly rubs, hikes, shedding, and other life changes. What she didn’t expect? To add estate planning to her to-do list. But that’s exactly what she did. Because adding pets to estate plans is something that’s not only possible, it’s necessary.
Like many pet parents, Mia wanted to make sure that if anything happened to her, Benny wouldn’t end up alone. She wanted a plan—one that spelled out who would care for him, where he’d live, and how his vet bills and gourmet kibble would be paid for.
Option 1: The Informal Promise (a.k.a. The “My Sister Said She’d Take Him” Plan)
Mia’s first instinct was to ask her sister, who already loved Benny, to take care of him. Her sister said yes, of course. But Mia quickly realized that an informal promise doesn’t hold legal weight. If her sister moved, or changed her mind, or couldn’t afford Benny’s care, there’d be no backup plan.
That’s when Mia looked into the more secure route: adding Benny to her trust.
Option 2: Adding Pets to Estate Plans (Tail Wags and Legal Tags)
When you add pets to estate plans, you can do more than just name a future caregiver. You can create a legal arrangement that spells out everything from who will walk your dog to how often they should get their favorite chew treats.
Here’s how Mia set it up:
1. She added Benny to her trust.
While Benny can’t inherit money directly (opposable thumbs = important), Mia’s trust designated a caregiver for him and set aside funds for his care.
2. She chose the caregiver and a trustee.
Mia’s best friend became Benny’s future caregiver, while her cousin was the trustee—the person responsible for managing the money and making sure Benny’s needs were met.
3. She funded the trust.
Mia did the math: Benny’s average annual costs (food, grooming, vet visits) plus a cushion for emergencies. She added $20,000 to her trust, specifically earmarked for his care.
4. She included care instructions.
Benny’s routine made it into writing: two walks a day, peanut butter kong after dinner, constant company during thunderstorms, and other things.
Pretty much anything related to your pet’s quality of life. Food and treats (yes, the fancy salmon jerky counts). Grooming and boarding. Routine and emergency veterinary care. Pet insurance. Favorite toys and comfort items (e.g., thundershirt). Even burial expenses. And you can set limits. If Benny’s trust balance ever drops below a certain amount, Mia’s trustee will re-evaluate the care plan or move Benny to a relative with a simpler lifestyle.
Why Not Just Mention Pets in a Will?
You can include pets in a will, but wills go through probate, which takes time. In the meantime, your pet could end up in limbo. Plus, wills don’t provide ongoing funds or enforceable care instructions.
A trust kicks in immediately and can stay active for the rest of your pet’s life. Which is exactly what Mia wanted for Benny: continuous care, no gaps, no guesswork.
Adding Pets to Estate Plans, Just Like Family—Because They Are Family
If your pet has a name, a favorite spot on the couch, and a costume for Halloween, they deserve a spot in your estate plan. Whether you have a sweet golden retriever like Benny, a rambunctious cat named Pickles, or a talkative parrot named Chewie, adding pets to estate plans ensures they’ll be safe and spoiled—even if you’re not around.
Adding pets to estate plans after adopting them isn’t just smart—it’s an act of love. And for animal lovers like Mia, it’s a no-brainer.
