Pet Trust Planning for Hidden Hills, California

Start with the person you would ask to provide care

Identify the animal or animals whose care you want to address, then consider who you would ask to take responsibility for them. Think about whether that person understands your expectations, is willing to take on the role, and could realistically provide care. A proposed caregiver is a planning choice, not a guarantee that the person will ultimately be able or willing to serve.

Consider an alternative in case your preferred person cannot take the role. Discuss the proposed arrangement with the people involved so you can learn whether they are willing to take on the responsibilities you have in mind. California law provides for trusts for the care of a living animal; the arrangement should identify its animal-care purpose and the people and resources involved.

• List the animals you want the arrangement to address.
• Write down your preferred caregiver and a possible alternative.
• Note the main care expectations you want to discuss with each person.

Keep direct care and trust roles distinct

Think separately about who would provide direct care and who would take on the trustee role. California’s animal-trust framework distinguishes a trustee from an enforcement role. This distinction is a reason to consider each responsibility separately; it does not mean that the caregiver and trustee must be different people, or that they must be the same person.

Before settling on an arrangement, consider whether the people you have in mind understand and are willing to take on their respective roles. If one person is expected to handle more than one responsibility, think through whether that combination is workable. Make the intended roles clear in your planning discussion so the people, resources, and animal-care purpose fit together.

• Identify who you are considering for direct care.
• Separately consider who you have in mind for the trustee role and whether you want an enforcement role.
• Ask the proposed participants whether they are willing to take on the responsibilities you are considering.

Bring practical records and instructions

A useful care plan describes the animal and the arrangements you want, rather than relying only on a broad instruction to provide care. As an optional preparation step, gather a current summary of the animal’s routine and any records you want the proposed caregiver to be able to find. Note where relevant information is kept and who should know how to access it.

Also consider what resources you intend to make available and how you want them connected to the animal-care purpose. The appropriate plan depends on your circumstances and intended care; this page does not set an amount or predict future costs. Organized information can make your expectations easier to discuss, but it cannot guarantee a particular person will serve or anticipate every future circumstance.

• Prepare a brief written care summary and gather records you want to discuss.
• Make a list of resources you are considering for the animal’s care.
• Note any details you may want to revisit if the animal’s routine or proposed caregiver changes.

Bring the decisions together in a planning conversation

A pet-care arrangement is more than naming a caregiver. Consider how the animal-care purpose, proposed caregiver, trustee role, any enforcement role, instructions, and resources work together. If a person is being considered for multiple responsibilities, explain that intention and discuss whether it is practical for them.

For a planning conversation, bring your proposed caregiver and alternative, your care summary, the resources you are considering, and the names of people you have in mind for trust roles. These are optional preparation steps, not legal requirements. Codi M. Dada Law Office P.C. can discuss pet trust planning as part of a California estate plan through virtual services statewide.