The UK is a nation of pet lovers and I often see clients at the office whose primary concern is to make provision for their pets in the event of their death.
I’ve seen clients wanting to make provision for their dogs, cats, birds and even a snake!
Can I Provide for a Pet in a Will?
It is possible to name in your Will the person or people who you would want to take care of your pet after you die, thus giving you peace of mind that your beloved pet will be looked after. It is also possible to leave a legacy in your Will to the pet’s new owner which can be used for their care and any vet bills.
Unfortunately, though, there is no legal obligation for the person you nominate to take care of your pet after your death and so it is a good idea to involve them in the Will planning process to check they would be happy with this responsibility.
Some clients even prepare a letter of wishes setting out details of their pet’s favourite food, and how they like to be cared for. Such information is often very useful for the new pet owner.
Lasting Powers of Attorney
You may also wish to consider what you would want to happen to your pet in the event that you become physically or mentally incapable of looking after yourself – either through accident or illness.
Such wishes can be incorporated into a Lasting Power of Attorney for Property and Financial affairs and your chosen Attorneys can be given the authority to use your money for your pet’s care.
A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document which allows you to give someone you trust the power to make decisions on your behalf should you become physically or mentally incapable of making those decisions yourself.
There are two separate types of Lasting Power of Attorney. One deals with property and financial affairs and the other deals with health and welfare issues. You can choose to have either or both types of Lasting Power of Attorney, depending on your wishes.
Who can make a Lasting Power of Attorney?
Anyone aged 18 or over can make a Lasting Power of Attorney, provided they have the mental capacity to do so. A Lasting Power of Attorney cannot be made jointly with another person, each person must make his or her own LPA.
For further information regarding this blog or if you have a question regarding Wills or Lasting Powers of Attorney, please contact me Sara Hilliard on 01332 364436 or at s.hilliard@timms-law.com.
