Pets: remembering ALL your loved ones

Let's face it, we live in a world in which our dogs and cats (and many other varieties of four-legged and non-legged friends) are a part of our family. This certainly is no less true for LGBT persons. The obvious question that comes to mind then is "What would happen to my beloved Vizsla or Ocicat or mutt Rotty-Pitt-Pinscher mix if I die?"

While we may treat our pets as if they are our children, Pennsylvania does not recognize them as such. However, Pennsylvania does allow a person to include clauses in his or her estate planning documents for the continued care of pets. Pennsylvania law allows people to make formal arrangements for the care of pets through a Will, and also allows for the creation of a trust for the care of pets.

Peter Klenk, Esquire and Jeanna Lam, Esquire explain the different things one should take into consideration when thinking about the future care of pets in their article "Including Your Pets in Your Estate Plan." You may find the piece helpful when thinking about your more-furry members of the family.