ESTATE PLANNING FORYOUR BELOVED PETS

Gerry W. BeyerGovernor Preston E. Smith Regents Professor of Law

Texas Tech University School of Law1

Pet Ownership in America Today

71.1 Million households own at least one pet (63% of all households)

▪ Dogs = 43.2 million households▪ Cats = 37.7 million households▪ Fish = 14.7 million households▪ Birds = 6.4 million households

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Potential Benefits of Pet Ownership

Unconditional love Companionship Lowered blood pressure Lessened risk of heart disease Improved concentration and

mental attitude Shortened recovery time after

hospitalization

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Treatment of Pets

Surveys reveal: 79% sleep with pets 70% would rather be stranded on

desert island with pet than spouse 31% take off work to be with a sick

pet 68% dress up pets for the holidays Huge rewards for return of lost pets

or locating person who kills pet

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Replacement “equipment”

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Cat – a prisoner’s best friend

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Famous Examples

Leona Helmsley – Trouble (dog)

Dusty Springfield – cat

Doris Duke – dog

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The Parrot Owners’ Estate

The Parrot Room

Inside Parrot Cage One

Inside Parrot Cage Two

Pearl

Pearl

Pearl and Cat [one of four]

Parrot Food

Prof. Beyer with Parrot

Underserved area of estate planning

Vast majority of people do not have wills.

Of those with wills, only a small percentage plan for their pets.

What planning is done, is often inadequate.

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Short Term Planning

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Short-Term Care Planning1. Animal Card

Carry in wallet to alert emergency personnel

19Front

Short-Term Care Planning1. Animal Card

Carry in wallet to alert emergency personnel

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Back

Short-Term Care Planning

2. Animal Document or Notebook Detailed information Easy for caregiver to find Consider keeping near food Include all important information

and documents

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Short-Term Care Planning

3. Door Sign

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Short-Term Care Planning

4. Durable Power of Attorney Authorize agent to spend pet

owner’s money for pet care. Authorize agent to place pet with

caregiver and to pay caregiver’s expenses and/or a fee.

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Long Term Planning

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Long Term Planning Overview

1. Traditional Pet Trust

▪ Effective in all states. ▪ Caregiver/Beneficiary receives funds

for pet care in accordance with pet owner’s (settlor’s) directions.▪ Comprehensive plan▪ Analog to gift in trust for children▪ The “gold standard” of pet planning

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Long Term Planning Overview

2. Statutory Pet Trust

▪ Authorized in 46 states (including Texas) and D.C.▪ Simple plan▪ Statute provides operation and

enforcement provisions▪ Analog to Uniform Transfers to Minors

Act gift for children.▪ The “better than nothing” pet plan.

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Long Term Planning Overview

What factors would you consider when creating a traditional pet trust?

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Traditional Pet Trusts – Factors to consider

1. Inter Vivos or Testamentary Inter Vivos▪ Avoids delay and gap in pet’s care.▪ Increased lifetime costs and hassles.

Testamentary▪ Probate of will required.▪ De minimus lifetime expense.

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Traditional Pet Trusts – Factors to consider

2. Designate Caregiver/Beneficiary Interview carefully. “Test” animal in person’s

household. Name alternates. Never name trustee as destroys

checks/balances. Consider animal care panel to select

alternate caregivers.29

Traditional Pet Trusts – Factors to consider

3. Nominate Trustee Individual or corporate? Compensation? Name alternates

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Traditional Pet Trusts – Factors to consider

4. Transfer animal to trust – “animal funding” Inter vivos = deliver animal to trustee along

with appropriate ownership documents. Testamentary = specific bequest of animal

in pet owner’s will to the trustee, in trust.

Trust then provides for trustee to deliver custody (not ownership) of animal to the caregiver/beneficiary.

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Traditional Pet Trusts – Factors to consider

5. Transfer other property to trust Factors:▪ Type of animal

▪ Life expectancy

▪ Potential of expensive medical costs

▪ Fee for trustee and/or caregiver

▪ Liability insurance injuries pet causes

▪ Health insurance for pet

▪ Size of pet owner’s estate

Warning▪ Do not transfer unreasonably large amount of property

as it triggers contests by heirs and beneficiaries.32

Traditional Pet Trusts – Factors to consider

6. Describe pet’s standard of living Daily care Routine medical care Emergency care End of life plans Should be specific, detailed as to each pet Can be documented during lifetime to

support long-term care monetary calculations

Should provide for accountability Should consider changing circumstances Should not be so rigid as to be inflexible

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Traditional Pet Trusts – Factors to consider

7. Specify distribution method for pet’s care Fixed sum▪ Simple▪ Not account for change in

circumstances Fix sum with trustee discretion to

pay additional expenses. Expense reimbursement only

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Traditional Pet Trusts – Factors to consider

8. Consider additional distributions for caregiver/beneficiary Distributions may increase quality

of care. Distributions decrease amount

available for pet care.

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Traditional Pet Trusts – Factors to consider

9. Limit duration of trust Comply with your state’s version

of the Rule Against Perpetuities.

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Traditional Pet Trusts – Factors to consider

10. Designate remainder beneficiary Consider charity which benefits

same type of animal. Do not name caregiver as then

caregiver lacks incentive to keep animal alive.

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Traditional Pet Trusts – Factors to consider

11. Identify animal to prevent fraud▪ Special Identifying marks▪ Tattoo▪ Microchip▪ DNA

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Traditional Pet Trusts – Factors to consider

12. Require trustee to inspect animal Random unannounced at-home

visits.

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Traditional Pet Trusts – Factors to consider

13. Provide instructions for final disposition of pet

Pet cemetery Cremation Memorial site on Internet

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Statutory pet trusts

“I leave $10,000 in trust to care for Rover.”

Statute “fills in the blanks” Person to enforce Use of money When trust ends Distribution of remaining property

Exact method depends on state statute

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Other Planning Options

1. Outright gift of animal and money Risky and uncertain, but cheap and

easy.

2. Transfer to life care center Good for hard-to-place animals

(exotics, farm animals, etc.). May require significant “endowment.” Quality varies tremendously so due

diligence is essential.42

Questions?

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For more information:

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Gerry W. BeyerBarry Seltzer

http://www.professorbeyer.com/Articles/Animals.html