Pet trust
A legal arrangement funding the care of an animal after its owner dies or can no longer look after it.
What it means
Animals are property in law and cannot inherit. A pet trust solves that by leaving money to a trustee for the animal's care, with a named caretaker.
Every state now provides for pet trusts in some form, generally lasting for the animal's lifetime.
It works best with specifics: who takes the animal, what care is expected, what happens if the caretaker cannot continue, and where anything left over goes.
Why it matters
An animal left to a relative in a will, with money attached, depends entirely on that relative's goodwill — the gift is theirs and so is the choice.
It is also one of a frequent reasons an animal is surrendered after a death: nobody was asked in advance.
When you are likely to meet it
- When making a will and there are animals.
- When a parent's pet needs a home after a death.
- When arranging emergency plans for somebody living alone.
How this varies by state
How long a pet trust may last and how a court enforces it are set by state law.