BlueMoon Meadows knows that our pets are so much more to us than property, they are family. Unfortunately, unlike our human children, the U.S. Law views our beloved fur or feathered children as property. The bottom line is: without written instructions of your wishes, "property" can be legally destroyed. Every hour of every day 50 companion animals are euthanized in US animal shelters simply because their human companions died and made no arrangements for their continuous care.

In 1990, the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws added a section to the Uniform Probate Code to validate "a trust for the care of a designated domestic or pet animal and the animal's offspring." Currently many states including California, Oregon, Alaska, Kentucky, New York, and Wisconsin enforce pet trusts; that is, monies and/or property set aside to care for an animal. Pet owners who live in states that have not adopted the probate code enforcing honorary pet trusts can just as easily write the pet, and the intended new pet owner, into their wills.

The owner of his or her will can designate a beneficiary to inherit the pet: but , there's no stopping that person from giving the animal away, or dumping it in an animal shelter or refusing the inheritance. Sadly, here at BlueMoon we see this happen every day and although we save some of the orphans MANY PERISH DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING.

Below are legal resources that will aid you in planning for your pet's future without you. We are more than happy to discuss options with you about the planning process and direct you to the right resources, however we cannot give legal advice.

For New York City Residents, the NY City Bar Association has a great electronic brochure on this subject.

The Estate Planning For Pets Foundation (website) The purpose of the Foundation is to provide an educational resource for pet owners regarding the who's, what's, when's, where's, and why's of planning for the care of their pets when they no longer can.  In doing so, the Foundation hopes to prevent the tragedy that results when pet owners have not planned ahead.  At this time, the sole activity of the Foundation is the maintenance of this web site. The sole incorporator, director, and author for the Foundation is Steven Baker, Esq., an estates and trusts attorney and C.P.A.  BlueMoon has received permission to link to his website. The site contains a list of professional law firms experienced with pet estate planning. Click Here for Information Another great site with more general information on estate planning. You can find attorneys by zip code or city http://www.estateplanninglawfirms.com/

Estate Planning for Non-Human Family Members (pdf file) Written by Gerry W. Beyer Governor Preston E. Smith Regents Professor of Law Texas Tech University School of Law Lubbock, Texas Published with permission from Gerry W. Berry. Click here for pdf file.

You must have a copy of Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® to print any pdf file . Acrobat® Reader® is free software that lets you view and print Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files. If you do not have a copy of Acrobat, click the icon to the right and follow the instructions.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: BlueMoon Meadows, Inc. is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional service.
If legal advice is required, the service of a competent professional should be sought.