Don’t forget to plan for your pet’s care in case you fall ill or pass away. Reading the news today, I ran across a sad story on pets whose owners have passed away from Covid-19. You can read the depressing story by clicking here. It’s a reminder that you not only need to plan for the care of your children in case you are unable to care for them, but also for your children of different species, i.e., your pets.

Ensure you have a family member or friend who can care for the pet when you cannot. You should also leave a note at your front door or on your fridge for first responders to alert them to the fact that you have pets in your home. (This is more critical in case of a fire.)

You should also be sure you have a couple of weeks of food for the pet as well as contact info for your vet.

If you would like a more formal designation of a caretaker of your pet, you should name a caretaker in your Will and Durable Power of Attorney. This is especially important for pets with long lifespans, like turtles and horses.

You may also want to set up a trust fund for the pet with a Trustee who is or is not the named caretaker. The Durable Power of Attorney can nominate a caretaker in case of your incapacity and it should allow the agent to expend funds for the pets’ care and may also allow for payment to the caregiver for the care they provide.