Today is National Pet Day – 11th April. A perfect opportunity to celebrate our furry companions (or scaley companions) and also reflect on their future. At APT Legal, we know how important pets are to families. Carrie in our team, for instance, has a handsome cat called Jasper, who enjoys nothing more than attention and keeps guard of Carrie’s biggest asset – the house from the window.
But what would happen to Jasper if something were to happen to Carrie?
It’s a question many pet owners don’t ask themselves – yet it’s vital that you do. Under the laws of England and Wales, pets are classed as personal property. That means they don’t automatically go to a friend or family member – and without proper provision in your Will, they could end up somewhere you never intended. It also means that they can’t directly benefit. This means you can’t leave money to your cat like you would, to a loved one.
Making Provision for Pets in Wills
Including your pet in your Will isn’t complicated, but it does require thought. The most common approach is to name a trusted person who will care for your pet and leave them a legacy to help cover costs. You might say something like:
“I leave my cat Jasper to my friend Sarah, together with the sum of £2,000, on the condition that she takes care of him.” We take care of the legal wording though – this is just an example!
You can also include instructions or preferences, such as dietary needs or routines, although these are not legally binding, they rely on the goodwill of the person you appoint.
Another option is to leave your pet to a charity rehoming scheme. Some animal charities offer ‘legacy pet care’ where they’ll take responsibility for your pet if no one else can.
How Other Countries Do It
In the United States, some states allow for pet trusts which are legal arrangements where funds are set aside and managed specifically for a pet’s welfare. The trustee is legally bound to use the money for the pet, and courts can intervene if they don’t.
In Germany, pets can’t inherit directly, but owners often leave money to an individual with strict conditions attached. France treats animals more seriously than the UK too, recognising them as “living beings gifted with sentience” since 2015 – though they’re still not able to inherit directly.
The World’s Luckiest Pets
Over the years, there’ve been some famously pampered pets:
- Trouble, the Maltese dog of hotel magnate Leona Helmsley, was left $12 million in her Will. The courts later reduced it to $2 million – still not a bad retirement.
- Blackie, the last surviving cat of a millionaire antiques dealer, inherited £7 million, becoming the Guinness World Record’s “wealthiest cat” at the time.
- Gunther IV, a German Shepherd, reportedly inherited a vast fortune from his owner – although the details are murky, and some believe it’s an elaborate PR stunt.
While your cat may not be the next millionaire moggy, making proper provision shows how much you care. Whether it’s Jasper, your beloved Labrador, or a rescue rabbit, they rely on you, and you can rely on us to help put everything in place.
If you’d like to talk about including your pet in your Will, we’re here to help.
Happy National Pet Day from all of us at APT Legal (and from Jasper too).
