Planning for Pets in Your Will: Ensuring Your Pets Are Cared For
For many people, pets are family. They’re part of the daily routine, the family photos, the holidays, and the little rituals that make a house feel like home.
So, what happens to your pets if you’re no longer around to care for them?
It’s a question many pet owners don’t think about until they’re preparing their Will. With some planning, you can make sure your pets have a clear plan for their care, and the people you trust know what you want for them.
1. Decide Who You Want to Care for Your Pets
The first step is deciding who you would want to care for your pets after your death.
As a matter of law, pets are considered property. This means your Will can deal with who receives your pet as part of your estate.
That doesn’t mean choosing a pet caregiver should be treated like choosing who receives your jewellery or furniture. You’re making a decision about the future of an animal who depends on you.
Ideally, choose someone who is willing and able to take on the responsibility.
Willingness
Talk to the person first. Make sure they’re genuinely willing to care for your pet and understand what that responsibility involves.
Ability to care for your pet
Think about the person’s lifestyle and circumstances.
Do they have enough space and time? Are they permitted to have pets where they live? Do they have other animals? Do they have allergies? Can they manage your pet’s particular needs?
For example, a large, energetic dog may need a very different home environment from an elderly cat.
Their relationship with your pet
If possible, choose someone your pet already knows.
Someone familiar with your pet’s personality, routines, likes, and dislikes may be better placed to help them settle into their new home.
Have a backup plan
Circumstances can change. Your first-choice caregiver may no longer be able to take your pet when the time comes.
Consider nominating a backup, and potentially a second backup.
If you don’t have someone you trust to care for your pet, think about whether there’s a shelter, rescue organisation, or rehoming service you would trust to help find them a suitable home.
2. Record Your Pet’s Care Instructions
Your Will can deal with who receives your pet, but there’s a lot more you might want your chosen caregiver to know.
That’s where your Letter of Wishes can be particularly useful.
Your Letter of Wishes is a non-binding document that can provide practical guidance about your wishes. It can sit alongside your Will and be updated more easily as your pet’s needs change.
You might include information about:
Diet and feeding
What food does your pet eat? How much? How often? Are there foods they can’t have?
Exercise and routines
Does your dog need a particular amount of exercise? Does your cat have a favourite routine? Are there particular activities your pet enjoys or struggles with?
Veterinary care
Include details of your regular vet, your pet’s medical history, medications, vaccination records, and any ongoing treatment.
Personality and preferences
This can be some of the most useful information for a new caregiver.
Does your pet hate thunderstorms? Sleep on the bed? Love car rides? Hide when strangers visit? Have a favourite toy?
These little details can help make a big transition a little easier.
Things that matter to you
You might also want to record things that are important to you about your pet’s ongoing care, such as keeping them with another animal they’re bonded with or maintaining particular routines where possible.
3. Consider Providing Money for Their Care
Pet ownership comes with ongoing costs, particularly as animals get older.
You may want to include a cash gift for the person who takes on responsibility for your pet.
The amount you set aside will depend on your circumstances and your pet. Consider things like:
Your pet’s age and expected lifespan
Food and everyday expenses
Veterinary care
Medication or ongoing treatment
Grooming
Other specific needs your pet has
There are also different ways a cash gift can be structured.
For example, you may want the person caring for your pet to receive the money when they take on the responsibility. In other circumstances, you may want conditions to apply to the gift.
The right approach depends on your circumstances and what you’re trying to achieve, so this is something to discuss with your estate planning lawyer when preparing your Will.
4. Think About What Happens If You’re Still Alive
Pet planning isn’t only about what happens after your death.
What happens to your pets if you’re alive but temporarily or permanently unable to care for them?
An unexpected hospital admission, serious illness, accident, or loss of decision-making capacity could mean you’re unable to look after your pets for a period of time.
Think about who you would trust to step in if that happened.
Your broader estate plan can also help you put appropriate arrangements in place for someone you trust to assist with your affairs if you lose capacity.
Having a conversation with your chosen person before anything happens can make a difficult situation much easier to manage.
5. Keep Your Pet Plan Up to Date
Your pet plan needs to keep up with your life.
Your chosen caregiver might move interstate, have children, develop allergies, or simply reach a point where they can no longer take on the responsibility.
You might also adopt another pet, lose a pet, or have a change in your pet’s health or care needs.
Review your Will and Letter of Wishes when these things happen, and make sure the people involved know about any important changes.
6. Talk to the People Involved
Once you’ve decided what you want to happen, talk to the people involved.
Let your chosen caregiver know that you’ve nominated them and make sure they’re comfortable with the responsibility.
Tell them where they can find your Letter of Wishes and any practical information about your pets.
You might also want to tell a close friend, family member, or neighbour about your arrangements, particularly if they’re someone who could help in an emergency.
The clearer your plan is, the less your family and friends will have to guess about what you would have wanted.
Your Pets Are Part of Your Estate Plan Too
Your pets may not be able to inherit from you, but they can absolutely be part of your estate planning conversations.
A thoughtful plan can give you confidence that, if something happens to you, someone you trust knows what to do, your pet’s needs are understood, and there is money available to help with their care.
At Sun Wills & Estates, we help clients think about the practical parts of their estate plan, including the people, pets, and personal wishes that matter to them.
If you have pets and haven’t made a plan for their care, it’s worth having the conversation now.
Ready to put your plan in place? Use our online calendar to book our heart-to-heart initial consult and take the first step towards giving yourself and your pets some peace of mind.