SHelter And REscue

Forwarded message - for info, please visit http://estateplanningforpets.org/

Estate Planning for Pets

Estate Planning for Your Pet - Excellent Web Site

"Many have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You become responsible forever for what you have tamed.”
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery, from The Little Prince

This web site is devoted to providing a broad-based information resource for pet owners, and the professionals who assist them, in estate planning for their pets. All too often, pet owners encounter professionals who are directly or indirectly dismissive of their desires to make sure their pets receive adequate care. The underlying assumption behind this web site is that the reader takes the issue of estate planning for pets seriously.

Frequently asked questions for pet owners. This section includes a broad discussion of considerations for the conscientious pet owner who want to ensure that his or her pet receives appropriate care in the event of his or her death or incapacity.
Legal resources. This section is intended to provide a source of legal information and includes a primer on the law of estate planning for pets, selected statutes, and sample language for estate planning documents.
Also be sure to check out our forum, a discussion of the issues:

WANTED: Editorial contributions from estate planning attorneys who are familiar with the laws and legal issues of estate planning for pets in Canada, the U.K., France, Germany, and other countries. If you are interested, please email us. info@estateplanningforpets.org

About Us

The Estate Planning for Pets Foundation

The Foundation is a nonprofit corporation organized and operated in the State of Arizona, organized and operated for educational purposes and for the prevention of cruelty to animals. The Foundation is exempt from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).

Our Special Purpose

The purpose of the Foundation is to provide an educational resource for pet owners regarding the whos, whats, whens, wheres, and whys of planning for the care of their pets when they no longer can. In doing so, the Foundation hopes to prevent the tragedy that results when pet owners have not planned ahead. At this time, the sole activity of the Foundation is the maintenance of this web site.

Acknowledgements

The sole incorporator, director, and author for the Foundation is Steven Baker, Esq., C.P.A., a Certified Specialist in Estate & Trust Law (State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization).

Vision for the Future

The Foundation hopes to grow in size and invites the participation of pet owners, animal sanctuaries, pet retirement homes, attorneys, accountants, financial planners, writers, and publishers - all toward the goal of raising awareness and educating pet owners and their professionals.

To this end, the Foundation also appreciates any modest donations to defray the out-of-pocket costs associated with the maintenance of a web site of this size which does not accept paid advertising. To contact us, please click here.
http://estateplanningforpets.org/contact.htm

For Skeptics

Why are countless numbers of pets left homeless upon the death or disability of their owner? Why are countless other pets left neglected and abused under similar circumstances?

We would venture to guess that the problem begins with attitudes reflected in the following email recently submitted by a user named "Larry":

"Estate planning for mere beasts?? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I read your 'For Skeptics' stuff and rolled my eyes. Pets are property. They are bought, sold, neutered, leashed, caged, and killed against their 'will' (they have no will, but you get my drift). Estate planning for pets is elevating animals to the levels of children and other family members. Back in my day, the pet of a deceased person was given to another family member or to a neighbor ,or an ad was put in the paper, 'free to good home'.. No lawyers involved. No "estate planning" for the animal. none of that nonsense."

Why is estate planning for pets necessary? Year after year, countless pets are left to a fate that their deceased or incapacitated owners would have never imagined, much less desired. And if you are an estate planning professional who does not take this issue seriously, consider that your client may take the care of their pet much more seriously than you would. If you are a skeptic who finds the whole topic to be frivolous and unworthy of consideration, we suggest you read the following articles:

The Estate Planning for Pets Foundation in the media:

Useful Estate Planning Techniques for Pet Owners by Arthur Kroll, Estate Planning (August 2006)

Trusts, Plans Care for Pets When Owners Die, The Arizona Republic (May 31, 2005), see http://www.azcentral.com

Polly Want a Lawyer?, Forbes (May 24, 2004)

General Pet Care: Estate Planning for Pets

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