Provide For Pets in Your Will and Trust If You Become Disabled

A bequest in your Will or Living Trust is an uncomplicated way to help protect

your pets.
A bequest may take several forms. It can be a specific sum, a percentage of
your estate, or the remainder of your estate after epenses and gifts to loved ones.
!equests can include cash, securities, real estate, houses, and personal property
such as valuable collections, art, or "ewelry. #ore information at www.hsus.org and
www.central"erseyelderlaw.com
$ere is some sample language that your attorney may use in your Will to
provide your eecutor with guidance in arranging for your pet%s care&
'Article (umber) A. As a matter of high priority and importance, I direct my *ersonal
+epresentative to place any and all animals I may own at the time of my death with
another individual or family ,that is, in a private, non institutionali-ed setting. where
such animals will be cared for in a manner that any responsible, devoted pet owner
would afford to his or her pets. *rior to initiating such efforts to place my animals, I
direct my *ersonal +epresentative to consult //////////////////////, 0.1.#.
,currently at the /////////////////////// $ospital., or, in the event of 0r.
/////////////%s unavailability, a veterinarian chosen by my *ersonal
+epresentative, to ensure that each animal is in generally good health and is not
suffering physically. In addition, I direct my *ersonal +epresentative to provide any
needed, reasonable veterinary care that my animal,s. may need at that time to restore
the animal,s. to generally good health and to alleviate suffering, if possible. Any
animal,s. not in generally good health or who is so suffering and whose care is
beyond the capabilities of veterinary medicine, reasonably employed, to restore to
generally good health or to alleviate suffering shall be euthani-ed, cremated, and the
ashes disposed of at the discretion of my *ersonal +epresentative. Any epenses
incurred for the care ,including the costs of veterinary services., placement, or
transportation of my animals, or to otherwise effect the purposes of this Article
/////////// up to the time of placement, shall be charged against the principal of
my residuary estate. 0ecisions my *ersonal +epresentative makes under this Article
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//////////////////// for eample, with respect to the veterinary care to be
afforded to my animal,s. and the costs of such care shall be final. #y intention is that
my *ersonal +epresentative have the broadest possible discretion to carry out the
purposes of this paragraph.
2ource&
http&33www.hsus.org3pets3pet/care3providing/for/your/pets/future/without/you3d/sa
mple/language/for/your/will.html
*reparing for the 4nepected30isability 5 Power of Attorney
We recommend you have your attorney prepare a *ower of Attorney if you
become disabled. This will permit someone else to handle your affairs and be a legal
caretaker for your pet.
In the confusion that accompanies a person%s unepected illness, accident, or
death, pets may be overlooked. In some cases, pets are discovered in the person%s
home days after the tragedy. To prevent this from happening to your pet, take these
simple precautions&
6ind at least two responsible friends or relatives who agree to serve as
temporary emergency caregivers in the event that something unepected happens to
you. *rovide them with keys to your home7 feeding and care instructions7 the name of
your veterinarian7 and information about the permanent care provisions you have
made for your pet.
#ake sure your neighbors, friends, and relatives know how many pets you have and
the names and contact numbers of the individuals who have agreed to serve as
emergency caregivers. 8mergency caregivers should also know how to contact each
other. 2ource& www.hsus.org
A Will must not only be prepared within the legal requirements of the (ew
9ersey 2tatutes but should also be prepared so it leaves no questions regarding your
intentions. W$: *8+I;0I< +81I8W I2 8228(TIAL
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8ven if you have an eisting Will, there are many events that occur which may
necessitate changes in your Will. 2ome of these are&

= #arriage, death, birth, divorce or separation affecting either you or anyone named in
your Will
=2ignificant changes in the value of your total assets or in any particular assets which
you own

= A change in your domicile

= 0eath or incapacity of a beneficiary, or death, incapacity or change in residence of a
named eecutor, trustee or guardian of infants, or of one of the witnesses to the
eecution of the Will
=Annual changes in ta law

#A: I <$A(>8 #: WILL?
:es. A Will may be modified, added to, or entirely changed at any time before
your death provided you are mentally and physically competent and desire to change
your Will. :ou should consider revising your Will whenever there are changes in the
si-e of your estate. 6or eample, when your children are young, you may think it best
to have a trust for them so they do not come into absolute ownership of property until
they are mature. !eware, if you draw lines through items, erase or write over, or add
notations to the original Will, it can be destroyed as a legal document. 8ither a new
Will should be legally prepared or a codicil signed to legally change portions of the
Will.
W$AT I2 A WILL?
@A Will is a Legal written document which, after your death, directs how your
individually owned property will be distributed, who will be in charge of your property
until it is distributed and who will take care of your minor children if the other parent
should die A. :ou should remember that the term @propertyB under the law includes
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Areal estate as well as other possessions and rights to receive money or items of
value.B 8veryone who has at least CDE,EEE in assets, a child or a pet should have a
Will. :ou do not have to be wealthy, married, or near death to do some serious
thinking about your Will.
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