• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC

Vermont Estate Planning Attorneys

Vermont: (802) 879-7133

Attend A Free Workshop
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Meet Our Team
    • What to Expect When Working with Us
  • Services
    • Estate Planning
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Medicaid Planning & Elder Law
    • Pet Planning
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration
    • Young Families Planning
  • Resources
    • Articles
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Elder Law Resources
      • Burlington
      • Montpelier
      • Rutland
      • St. Johnsbury
      • White River Junction
    • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Elder Law
        • In-Home Elder Care
        • Medicaid
        • Planning for Long-Term Care
      • Estate Planning
        • Business Succession Planning
        • Estate and Gift Tax
        • Estate Planning for Blended Families
        • Estate Planning for Parents
        • FAQs for Families Without an Estate Plan
        • LGBTQ Estate Planning
        • Taxes on Inheritances in Vermont
      • Incapacity Planning
      • IRA & Retirement Planning
      • Gift, Estate, and Inheritance Taxes
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • Philanthropy and Estate Planning
      • Pet Planning
      • Revocable Living Trust
      • Special Needs Planning
      • Trust Administration
      • Trusts
      • Wills
    • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
    • Medicaid Resources
      • Medicaid Analysis Worksheet
      • Medicaid Guide
      • Vermont Medicaid
    • Newsletters
    • Presentations
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning for Niches
    • SECURE Act
    • Top Estate Planning Techniques
  • Webinars/Seminars
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • BLOG
  • Contact
Home » Dog Ownership, Seniors, and Pet Planning

Dog Ownership, Seniors, and Pet Planning

January 13, 2022 by patrickg

 

The matter of estate planning for pets may seem like something that is the domain of the extravagant rich and famous. It is true that celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Betty White are said to have estate plans that include millions of dollars for their pampered dogs.

However, when you look at the subject objectively, you can see that pet planning can be useful for some everyday people.

Companionship and Purpose

As elder law attorneys, we work with many older clients that have lost loved ones along the way. When your spouse is gone and your family members are always busy and/or living in another city, you may not get many social invitations or visitors.

After you are retired, you do not have daily interactions with your co-workers, and this can add to the loneliness and isolation. Under these circumstances, a dog could fill the void.

Clearly, a dog is not going to replace a beloved spouse or sibling, but man’s best friend can certainly make a very positive difference. You feel a renewed sense of purpose when you have a responsibility to the pet, and the love and companionship is priceless.

Tangible health benefits can also go along with dog ownership. If you are physically capable of doing so, you will invariably take your dog for walks, and this is good for your health on multiple levels.

When the destination is a local park or dog park, you will run into other dog owners and people that love animals, and you may strike up conversations and make acquaintances.

A dog can act as a protector even if they are not very big. They will let you know if there are any strange sounds outside the door, and this can make you feel safer and more secure in your home.

Longevity Concerns

All of the above may make a lot of sense on the surface, but responsible seniors are going to have concerns about their longevity. It would be heartbreaking to leave the dog homeless if you pass away first, and many people do not bring pets into their homes for this reason.

Pet Planning

A lot of people equate estate planning to the creation of a will, and they envision pet planning through the terms of a will. You could tell someone that you are going to leave them an inheritance with the understanding that they will use the money to provide a home for the pet.

This is possible, but from a legal perspective, the person in question could do whatever they want to do with the inheritance. Another drawback is the fact that is difficult to know how much to leave because you do not know exactly how long the dog will live.

There is also the matter of uncertainty, because someone that agrees to look after a dog at one time may go through some life changes that impact their ability to follow through on the commitment.

You don’t have to take any of these chances if you establish a pet trust for the benefit of your fine furry friend. You would name a trustee to act as the administrator, and it could be a person that you know or a professional fiduciary such as a trust company or the trust department of a bank.

The trustee would not necessarily act as the caretaker, but they would be legally compelled to make sure that the pet is provided for in accordance with your stated wishes.

After the death of the pet, the remainder that is left in the trust would be inherited by a successor beneficiary that you name. This can be the ideal solution for a lonely senior, and pet trusts are now recognized in all 50 states.

Attend a Free Webinar!

We go the extra mile to provide educational opportunities to members of our community through our estate planning webinars. They cover a number of different important topics, and there is no charge, so this is a great way to invest a little bit of spare time.

You can see the dates if you head over to our Burlington, VT estate planning webinar page, and when you identify the session you would like to attend, follow the instructions to register.

 

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
patrickg
Latest posts by patrickg (see all)
  • Dog Ownership, Seniors, and Pet Planning - January 13, 2022

Filed Under: General

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Essex Junction elder law attorneys
What You Need to Know about Elder Abuse
Essex Junction Medicaid planning attorneys
How to Apply for Senior Medicaid in Vermont
Essex Junction Medicaid planning attorneys
Does My 401(k) Account Count for Medicaid Eligibility?
Essex Junction elder law attorney
Senior Care Options
Essex Junction estate planning attorney
Do I Need an Estate Plan If I’m Single Without Children?
Essex Junction elder law attorney
How to Pick the Right Nursing Home

Primary Sidebar

Elder Law and Medicaid Planning Attorneys

Unsworth LaPlante, PLC

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHEET

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Blog Subscription

Sign up to Unsworth LaPlante's estate planning blog to receive all the latest news and updates.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Essex Junction, VT

26 Railroad Ave
Essex Junction, VT 05452
United States (US)
Phone: (802) 879-7133
Fax: (802) 879-0408

Map

unsworth_sidbr_map

Office Hours

Monday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Footer

footer-logo
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The information on this Vermont Attorneys & Lawyers / Law Firm website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Site Map | Powered by American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.