Including Pets in Your Will

07/04/2020
Author: Judith Bromley

As nation of animal lovers we often forget what would become of our pets should anything happen to us. Many people are unware they can provide for their animals in their Will.

Naming a person, or persons, to look after them in your Will gives you peace of mind that your best friend will be well cared for if you die. You can even set aside some money from your estate to ensure that your pet’s new owner will be able to care for them.

Of course, there’s no law that states they have to look after your pet, so it’s important to speak to the person you want to nominate to make sure they’re happy to be left with a new addition to their household. After all, it’s not just about the financial aspects of caring for an animal – regardless of whether you leave them money or not – it has to be practical too.

Another thing worth thinking about is whether you need to make provisions for your pet if you haven’t the capacity to look after it yourself. Making a Lasting Power of Attorney allows your attorney (the person you select to look after your affairs on your behalf) to pay for things like pet insurance or vets bills, even kennel fees.

If you want to talk about making a Will or a Lasting Power of Attorney, the wills and probate team at Russell & Russellare experts in this area of law and offer a free, no obligation consultation to help you make the right decisions for you.