What Happens To Your Pet After You Die?
It really is something we give very little thought to: when we die, who will look after our beloved pets? We always expect and hope that we will outlive our dogs, cats, parrots or hamsters; and more often than not we do.
However, many of us who are in the twilight of our years will seek the companionship of a pet. This is particularly so when we have lost our partner and wish to spend our final decades with a companion. Cats and dogs often live around 12 to 14 years, so if you have decided to bring a beloved animal into your home and life, you can expect him to outlive you, assuming you are elderly.
Pets can become part of the family very quickly and those wonderful and affectionate creatures will need to be provided for after our death. Who will stroke him? How will my cat be fed? Who will provide for her veterinary bills? Where will my beloved and faithful hound sleep at night? All these questions require an answer to satisfy us once we have passed on.
So what happens to your pet after you die?
It is at times like these when we need to do some estate planning. But what exactly is that? Estate planning means planning for what will happen in the event of your death, not only with regards to property and money but also children and pets. These plans and provisions are then drawn up into a Will that will take effect after your death. Writing a Will is not as daunting as you may think and will provide you with peace of mind. We can be sure that after our death, pets will live on and survive with love, affection and regular feeding.
Will drafting provides a security that will see our pets treated for ailments, disease and pain after our death. We know that when we die our children will be provided for, but what about our pets?
Our dogs and cats give us much love and companionship throughout our living years, so when they outlive us, we need to know they will be provided for.
Writing a Will is a clear method of making sure of this provision. It is good to know that pets are regarded as “personal chattels” and they can be offered to surviving family members as gifts when will drafting and estate planning.
You should make sure that the family member you leave your pet to in your will is willing to take on the cost and care of your pet. If not, consider the RSPCA’s Home for Life service as an excellent way of leaving good provision for your pet throughout his lifetime.
If you would like some advice on what options are available regarding your pets, please contact MGF Wills today.
Or, if you’d rather arrange a face to face appointment:
