thepawandfeatherplan

A book I'm reading, Estate Planning When You Have Pets , inspired me to write this blog.     As the owner of The Paw and Feather Plan I help people think ahead to prevent their pets from becoming homeless.  With a little planning, this can be a surprisingly simple task!           For the legal aspects of planning (wills, directives and trusts) I refer clients to competent, animal-loving, estate-planning attorneys.      So why then am I writing about "why you need a will?"      I should just leave this topic to the professionals right?! -Wrong.     While I cannot (nor do I want to) offer legal advice since I'm not an attorney, I can share my brief story with wills and how my perception of life and death planning has changed over the past couple of years.  This is a topic people need to be comfortable contemplating and discussing; after all we're all going to die one day! ...

" Yes, I need to put my pet in my will. Or wait... is it supposed to be a trust ?" I'm quoting anyone there, no one in particular.  ~It could be you!  The fact is: figuring out how to best include pets in our life  and  death plans can be overwhelming and uncomfortable.     But, it's the right thing to do: for your pet, your loved ones, and your own peace of mind.     And, with the right estate planning attorney, the process won't be as bad as you think... we  promise ! Fundamental Differences Between Wills and Trusts: -Standard wills go into effect after your death while trusts can go into effect as soon as they're created ( think, you create a trust with your attorney and on the way home get in a wreck and become comatose- that trust could start working for you immediately... after order from judge granted )     -Wills pass through probate court. Trusts do not    - Wills become public rec...