Each year in the United States, an estimated 7.6 million companion animals find their way to animal shelters. Only 2.7 million are adopted annually. While some are strays that return to their owners, many others cannot find homes and are euthanized. One of the reasons why pets end up at a shelter is because their owners pass away or become incapacitated and unable to care for themselves. This means that if you are a pet parent without a pet plan, your animal’s life is at risk.
Hedeker Law can provide you with the help you need to protect your companion animal. We can assist you in using the legal tools available under Illinois law to ensure that your pet is cared for and kept safe and secure. To find out more about the ways in which we assist clients in Lincolnshire with the pet planning process, give us a call at 847-913-5415 today. We can also provides answers to questions you may have including:
- Why is pet planning necessary?
- What needs to be included in pet planning?
- How can a Lincolnshire pet planning lawyer help?
Why is Pet Planning Necessary?
Pet planning is necessary because, with no plan, your pet could become homeless or could end up with a caretaker who cannot provide the type of environment that your animal deserves. When you take responsibility for an animal, that is a lifetime commitment- and the commitment is for the life of the companion pet. If you die or become incapacitated, your animal is still depending upon you and should not suffer. With some simple advanced planning, you can prevent your animal companion from a bad fate.
Many people think that pet planning is only a concern if they are older. However, even young pet owners may face an unexpected illness or injury that leaves them unable to care for an animal. If you are young and single, it may be even more important for you to create a pet plan since you cannot count on a spouse to simply continue caring for your animal after you are gone.
What Needs to be Included in Pet Planning?
When you make a pet plan, the first priority is to ensure your animal has a home. Often, it makes sense for you to name a guardian for your pet and then also to select a backup guardian. This way, you’re prepared in case something unforeseen happens and your first choice person becomes unable to care for the pet. Be sure to talk with the people you are selecting as guardians for your animal to see if they are willing and able to provide a home for the pet.
You also should consider how your pet will be cared for financially. Vet bills, food costs, toys, and other expenditures can be substantial. You don’t want your pet’s caregiver to be unable to pay for lifesaving care and you don’t want your pet to suffer a decline in quality of life because you are gone. If you want to make certain there are sufficient funds to offer your pet the best possible quality of life, you should strongly consider making some financial provisions for pet care.
While you could simply leave money in a will, often this is inadequate since there is no guarantee of how the money will be spent and you cannot necessarily ensure that the cash will go to your animal. You have much more control if you create a trust and fund it. You can provide specific and detailed instructions for how trust assets can be used and you can select a trustee who will be in charge of managing the trust and following your requirements. The trustee has the highest legal duty under the law (a fiduciary duty) to obey your request and to ensure that the money which you have transferred into the trust is appropriately used to provide a high standard of living for your animal.
How can a Lincolnshire Pet Planning Lawyer Help?
Hedeker Law understands the bonds that pet owners have with their pets, and we treat the pet planning process with compassion and dedication. Our legal team will bring our knowledge of Illinois law and our considerable legal experience to the table to help ensure that your pet is cared for. We offer assistance to clients in Lincolnshire and surrounding areas throughout Chicago so give us a call at 847-913-5415 or contact us online today to get started on your pet plan.
