This Cute Pet

Pets in your will

Pet owners are creating trusts and setting aside money to ensure that their pets, the beneficiary, will live comfortably. In 1993 Heiress Doris Duke died and her will included lavish measures to provide continuing care for her beloved pets, including a $100,000 trust fund for a dog.


The increase in pet trusts is largely due to the fact that they now are fully sanctioned by law in much of the country. But since her Doris Duke died, the Uniform Probate Code, used by many states as a guide to development of probate law, has been amended to validate actual pet trusts that courts can enforce.



An pet owner must name a trustee and a caretaker for the pet in creating a pet trust. This person, or persons, are responsible for taking care of the animal. In addition, pet trusts can designate an enforcer whose job is to make sure that the trustee and caretaker comply with the trust.

Courts can decide if money put into pet trusts is excessive as a safeguard for family members. People who might be considering creation of a pet trust should be aware of certain tax considerations . With traditional trusts, human beneficiaries are taxed on the income that is distributed. With an animal-care trust, there’s no human equivalent that can be taxed on the income. So that means it can be taxed to the trust.