Provide For your Labrador Retriever dog in Your Will, Power of Attorney and Trust If

You Become isabled

A bequest in your Will or Living Trust is an uncomplicated way to help protect your
pets. If you were to pass away, who would take care of your pet, or would someone ust take
the dog to the !pound". Adoptions of older pets are rare, unless you provide money to take
care of the feeding, grooming and vet care of your beloved dog.
A bequest may take several forms. It can be a specific sum, a percentage of your
estate, or the remainder of your estate after e#penses and gifts to loved ones. $equests can
include cash, securities and personal property such as savings accounts. %ore information
at www.hsus.org and www.centralerseyelderlaw.com
&ere is some sample language that your attorney may use in your Will to provide your
'#ecutor with guidance in arranging for your pet(s care)
*Article +umber, A. As a matter of high priority and importance, I direct my -ersonal
.epresentative to place any and all animals I may own at the time of my death with another
individual or family /that is, in a private, non institutionali0ed setting1 where such animals will
be cared for in a manner that any responsible, devoted pet owner would afford to his or her
pets. -rior to initiating such efforts to place my animals, I direct my -ersonal .epresentative
to consult 2222222222222222222222, 3.4.%. /currently at the 22222222222222222222222
&ospital1, or, in the event of 3r. 2222222222222(s unavailability, a veterinarian chosen by my
-ersonal .epresentative, to ensure that each animal is in generally good health and is not
suffering physically. In addition, I direct my -ersonal .epresentative to provide any needed,
reasonable veterinary care that my animal/s1 may need at that time to restore the animal/s1
to generally good health and to alleviate suffering, if possible.
Any animal/s1 not in generally good health or who is so suffering and whose care is
beyond the capabilities of veterinary medicine, reasonably employed, to restore to generally
good health or to alleviate suffering shall be euthani0ed, cremated, and the ashes disposed
of at the discretion of my -ersonal .epresentative. Any e#penses incurred for the care
/including the costs of veterinary services1, placement, or transportation of my animals, or to
otherwise effect the purposes of this Article 22222222222 up to the time of placement, shall
be charged against the principal of my residuary estate. 3ecisions my -ersonal
.epresentative makes under this Article 22222222222222222222 for e#ample, with respect
to the veterinary care to be afforded to my animal/s1 and the costs of such care shall be final.
1
%y intention is that my -ersonal .epresentative have the broadest possible discretion to
carry out the purposes of this paragraph.
5ource)
http)66www.hsus.org6pets6pet2care6providing2for2your2pets2future2without2you6d2sample2la
nguage2for2your2will.html
-reparing for the 7ne#pected63isability 8 Power of Attorney
We recommend you have your attorney prepare a -ower of Attorney if you become
disabled. This will permit someone else to handle your affairs and be a legal caretaker for
your pet.
In the confusion that accompanies a person(s une#pected illness, accident, or death,
pets may be overlooked. In some cases, pets are discovered in the person(s home days after
the tragedy. To prevent this from happening to your pet, take these simple precautions)
9ind at least two responsible friends or relatives who agree to serve as temporary
emergency caregivers in the event that something une#pected happens to you. -rovide them
with keys to your home: feeding and care instructions: the name of your veterinarian: and
information about the permanent care provisions you have made for your pet.
%ake sure your neighbors, friends, and relatives know how many pets you have and
the names and contact numbers of the individuals who have agreed to serve as emergency
caregivers. 'mergency caregivers should also know how to contact each other. 5ource)
www.hsus.org
A Will must not only be prepared within the legal requirements of the +ew ;ersey
5tatutes but should also be prepared so it leaves no questions regarding your intentions.
W&< -'.I=3I> .'4I'W I5 '55'+TIAL
'ven if you have an e#isting Will, there are
many events that occur which may necessitate changes in your Will. 5ome of these are)

? %arriage, death, birth, divorce or separation affecting either you or anyone named in your
Will
?5ignificant changes in the value of your total assets or in any particular assets, which you
own

2
? A change in your domicile

? 3eath or incapacity of a beneficiary, or death, incapacity or change in residence of a named
e#ecutor, trustee or guardian of infants, or of one of the witnesses to the e#ecution of the Will
?Annual changes in ta# law

%A< I >&A+@' %< WILLA
<es. A Will may be modified, added to, or
entirely changed at any time before your death provided you are mentally and physically
competent and desire to change your Will. <ou should consider revising your Will whenever
there are changes in the si0e of your estate. 9or e#ample, when your children are young, you
may think it best to have a trust for them so they do not come into absolute ownership of
property until they are mature. $eware, if you draw lines through items, erase or write over,
or add notations to the original Will, it can be destroyed as a legal document. 'ither a new
Will should be legally prepared or a codicil signed to legally change portions of the Will.
W&AT I5 A WILLA
!A Will is a Legal written document which,
after your death, directs how your individually owned property will be distributed, who will be
in charge of your property until it is distributed and who will take care of your minor children
if the other parent should die B. <ou should remember that the term !property" under the law
includes Breal estate as well as other possessions and rights to receive money or items of
value." 'veryone who has at least CDE,EEE in assets, a child or a pet should have a Will.
<ou do not have to be wealthy, married, or near death to do some serious thinking about
your Will.
!ennet" A# $ercammen is an 'dison, %iddlese# >ounty, +; trial attorney who has
published DFG articles in national and +ew ;ersey publications on -robate and litigation
topics. &e often lectures to trial lawyers of the American $ar Association, +ew ;ersey 5tate
$ar Association and %iddlese# >ounty $ar Association. &e is >hair of the American $ar
Association 'state -lanning H -robate >ommittee. &e is also 'ditor of the A$A 'lder Law
>ommittee +ewsletter
&e is a highly regarded lecturer on litigation issues for the American $ar Association,
I>L', +ew ;ersey 5tate $ar Association and %iddlese# >ounty $ar Association. +ew ;ersey
Law ;ournal, A$A Law -ractice %anagement %aga0ine, and +ew ;ersey Lawyer have
3
published his articles. &e is the 'ditor in >hief of the +ew ;ersey %unicipal >ourt Law
.eview. %r. 4ercammen is a recipient of the +;5$A8 <L3 5ervice to the $ar Award.
In his private practice, he has devoted a substantial portion of his professional time to the
preparation and trial of litigated matters. &e has appeared in >ourts throughout +ew ;ersey
several times each week on many personal inury matters, %unicipal >ourt trials, and
contested -robate hearings.
I'++'T& 4'.>A%%'+ H A55=>IAT'5, ->
Attorney at Law
FEGJ Woodbridge Ave.
'dison, +; EKKDL
LJF8GLF8EGEE
www.centralerseyelderlaw.com
To schedule an in office consultation, contact our office at 4ercammenLawMnlaws.com
4