I have been practicing in the probate courts for almost 10 years on the Gulf Coast. One thing that I have seen over and over that breaks my heart more than anything is seeing how a death in the family affects kids and animals.
Both are vulnerable and both have a hard time dealing with losing a loved one.
Fortunately, most people ensure that they have an estate plan that takes care of their kids. But very few people in my estate planning sessions ask about what would happen to their animals if they passed away.
In Mississippi, animals are considered property. Which means that when a person dies, they are owned technically by the estate.
But while many people ensure that the title to a car or a house that was owned by the deceased is properly transferred to the new owner, very few people worry about the animals.
Many animals end up neglected, dropped off at shelters, handed over to another person without a proper vetting, or are found with the deceased person several days and sometimes weeks after the person’s death.
That is why, when I’m meeting with my clients to set up their estate plans, I include the question, “What would you like to do to ensure any animals in your care at the time of your death or disability are taken care of?”
Most people shrug, because they’ve never thought of what would happen to their animals if they pass away or they become disabled and unable to care for their animals.
Many people do not have in place a plan to ensure that their animals are taken care of if they are involved in an accident, have a medical emergency, or find that they cannot return to their home for several days or weeks.
Many people do not have in place a plan for wellness checks by their friends and family if they do not speak to them for several days.
But there is something that you can do to ensure your animals are not only taking care of after your death, but also during your lifetime in the event that they are left alone for any period of time at your home.
I carry on my keychain a tag that states that I have in my wallet a card with a contact name and number of someone who has the code and key to my home to enter it to ensure my animals’ health and welfare until I can return home.
My husband also has one on his keychain.
If I’m involved in an accident or I have a medical emergency, that card is right next to my drivers’ license in my wallet. That card gives emergency personnel a contact number to call.
I find them so useful that I bought them in bulk and now offer them to my estate planning clients, so that they too can have in place a plan for individuals who can step in and ensure that the animals are fed, watered, and walked/allowed to go outside if they are involved in an accident or have a medical emergency.
While I am now an active and very busy attorney, when I retire, I plan on putting in place a system of daily check-in’s with friends and family so that if something happens and I don’t check in that day, they know to check on me at my home.
Please do not leave this part of your estate plan to chance.
You should also not assume that your family will automatically take your animals in just because you’re gone.
Today, I watched a Facebook video created by the Humane Society that listed several animals who had been surrendered and the reasons why.
One beautiful animal had a caption that read that its owner died and the family did not want to take her in.
This baby not only lost her owner, but she is now sitting in a shelter, alone and afraid, and her future is uncertain.
I look at my two very spoiled dogs and extremely spoiled cat and smile, knowing that my office manager has in her possession the code and keys to get into my house, access to my Vet records, and will have sufficient money to ensure they have a good life.
Even if she can’t keep the animals, I trust her to find safe, secure, and loving homes for them.
I always say that adopting an animal is a lifetime commitment.
But even after my lifetime, it is my obligation to ensure that my animals are taken care of.
I will not leave such an important part of my life to chance.
So I leave you with this question this week:
What plan do you have in place to make sure that if something happens to you, someone will take care of your fur babies?
