We’re Dedicated to Securing
Your Pet’s Future
A pet trust should be part of your comprehensive estate plan. For many of our clients, their pets are a key part of their life and they want to make sure that if something happens, their pets will be properly cared for throughout their entire lives.
Caring for pets is something that as a law firm, we’re passionate about. Attorney Barry Siegel and his team have been helping clients for years with estate planning to legally protect pets after their owners pass. This passion also runs in the family, Barry’s dad was dedicated to helping animals as he had a very successful veterinary practice in Miami for several years. He was also the president of The Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA).

If you’ve decided that a pet trust is for you then now’s the time to start thinking about who you want to care for your pet. Here are some initial steps you can take to get started now:
- Find someone you trust and that is willing to take on the responsibility.
- You’ll also want to name a successor in case something happens to your first choice
- Discuss the care your pet needs and what you want for your pet with your designated caregiver.
- Write down your plan.
Legally, there are a few ways you can protect your pets. Creating a letter of instruction is a simple solution if you think there won’t be any objections. In Florida, it’s possible to leave your pet with a caretaker that you designate in your trust or will. You can also leave the caretaker a specific amount of money to take care of your pet’s future expenses.
What to Discuss with Your
Pet Trust Attorney
You’ll want to discuss how to handle any money left over after the pet dies with your lawyer. We’ve had clients pick great pet charities and organizations to donate any extra money not used for the care of their own pets. Some leave the money to other close family members. Consider including a clause in your trust to prevent your heirs from changing your plans on how to care for your pet.
You have plenty of choices at your disposal to create a plan that gives you peace of mind knowing your beloved pet is being cared for as completely as possible. If you want to cut through the legal headaches and understand how to ensure your pet’s future, make sure to call The Siegel Law Group, P.A. Our office numbers are 561-955-8515 and 855-FLA-ESTATE