Pet Trust Planning for San Anselmo Residents

Start with the care arrangement

California law provides for trusts established to care for a living animal. The planning focus is the animal’s care purpose and the people and resources involved—not treating an animal as a person who directly inherits property. A proposed arrangement can identify who will care for the animal, what resources are intended for that care, and how the trust’s purpose will be overseen.

Before a consultation, consider what arrangement would be workable for the animal and the people involved. A person willing to provide daily care may not be the same person you want to oversee whether the trust purpose is being carried out.

Choose and discuss the people involved

Gather the name and contact information of your proposed caregiver, along with a backup possibility if you have one. Think about whether each person understands the commitment and is willing to take it on. These are useful points to discuss, not a guarantee that a proposed person will be available when needed.

A trustee and a person designated or appointed to enforce the trust purpose have distinct roles under California’s animal-trust framework. Consider whether you want to identify someone for each role and what oversight you have in mind; the appropriate arrangement depends on your circumstances.

Collect practical details before meeting

A concise preparation file can make a remote consultation more focused. Gather information about the animal, the care routine you want continued, the people you are considering, and the resources you propose to set aside. Separate what you know from what you still need to decide.

• Identify each animal and note relevant care routines and preferences you want considered.
• List proposed caregivers and the person you may want to oversee the trust purpose, with contact details and any questions about their willingness.
• Describe the resources you are considering for care and any instructions you want discussed.
• Write down unresolved choices, such as a backup caregiver or how oversight should work.

Set realistic expectations for the plan

A trust’s stated purpose, designated people, and resources can help organize an animal-care arrangement, but they do not guarantee a particular enforcement outcome or ensure a proposed caregiver will remain available. Discuss practical contingencies and how the arrangement should address changes in circumstances.

Care instructions are planning information, not veterinary advice. For medical needs or treatment decisions, rely on an appropriate veterinary professional rather than treating estate-planning language as a substitute.

Prepare for a virtual consultation

Codi M. Dada Law Office P.C. serves clients virtually throughout California from its Novato office. Before meeting, organize your notes about the animal, proposed caregiver, resources, instructions, and oversight. Bring the choices you have made as well as the questions you still want to resolve; the consultation can focus on shaping those details into a coherent planning discussion.