Estate Planning for Pets in Louisiana

For many of us, pets are truly members of our families, and we can’t imagine leaving them unprotected any more than we would a child or a partner. Our pets trust us completely and rely on us for their care, so when we’re no longer around to care for them, they may face an uncertain future if we haven’t planned ahead for their needs. However, estate planning for pets often is forgotten when planning for the future. It’s not that people don’t love their pets, most just don’t know that they can provide for them the same as any other family member.

Until relatively recently, there was no specific legal mechanism in Louisiana to provide for your pet after your death. Fortunately, in 2015, Louisiana enacted a law allowing pet trusts, giving pet owners a way to ensure that their beloved animals would be provided for even after the owner’s passing.

If you’d like to learn more about estate planning for pets, contact Aspen Estate Planning to talk about how to secure your animals’ future—and your own peace of mind about their care.

Estate Planning for Pets in Louisiana

If you have a pet, you know that giving them the care they deserve can be costly, between food, veterinary care, bedding and boarding (and of course, toys and treats). Creating a pet trust gives you a mechanism for providing for their needs, which can make it easier for someone you trust to take over your pets’ care if the need arises.

Louisiana pet trust law allows you to:

• Create a valid trust to provide for the care of one or more animals;
• Name a caregiver to have custody of each animal and be responsible for its care;
• Designate someone to manage the assets in the trust;
• Designate someone to enforce the terms of the trust;
• Provide for the disposition of remaining assets in the trust after the death of all animals referenced in the trust.

Prior to the enactment of this law, many people would try to provide for their pets by leaving a bequest in their will to a friend or family member to care for the animal. But there was no way to ensure that the funds would be used for that purpose.

The pet trust law gives you greater assurance that your pets will be cared for as you would have done, without placing a financial burden on the caregiver. Aspen Estate Planning will help you create a pet trust so you have peace of mind that even your non-human family members will be cared for as you intended once you’re gone.

The Aspen Estate Planning Difference

Aspen Estate Planning understands that “family” doesn’t just mean people who are biologically related to you—and may include those who aren’t even people at all. For many people, family is a source of unconditional love, comfort and connection—a definition which perfectly describes pets.

I have furry family members too, and I understand the love that is shared with your pets and what your pets mean to you. I established Aspen Estate Planning to protect the future of all kinds of families, and all of their members, including furry, feathered, or scaly ones. I believe that the estate planning process, including estate planning for pets, should be as comfortable and convenient as possible. I offer virtual appointments or in-person appointments at your location, so you can spend less time in an attorney’s office, and more time taking care of the ones you love.